Dear Christian friends:

Someone has said, "Sitting in a church service does not make you a Christian (just) the same as sitting in a hen house does not make you a hen." I'm sure you agree with that quotation. Not everyone comes to church for the same purpose. That was true also on the first Maundy Thursday when Jesus ate the Passover Meal with His disciples in the Upper Room. Those twelve disciples and Jesus came there for various purposes. Jesus the Leader came there to eat the Passover Meal for the last time with His disciples. Jesus also came there to establish a new supper, Holy Supper. Also, Jesus was there to warn His disciples and to give them their final encouragement for their future work after His death, resurrection and ascension.

However, the twelve disciples were thinking about other things that evening. Some of them were thinking and wondering who would be the greatest in Jesus' new kingdom. Judas, without doubt, was thinking about betraying Jesus. They were thinking about many different things that evening as they sat around the table. We are not surprised about that. If each one of us would take turns standing up and telling what we have been thinking since we came into church this evening, we would be surprised and perhaps embarrassed about some of the things we have been thinking: worries about our family and work, plans for Easter celebrations, arguments that happened between husband and wife before church and not yet finished, worries about finishing cleaning and shopping before Easter. Many and various things we have been thinking, which show that we all do not really have one purpose in coming here tonight.

However, Jesus did get everyone's attention that evening while they were eating. It was the same as if He had dropped a bomb! He said to them, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray Me." Imagine if I stopped leading our worship service this evening and said to you, "I have just learned that one of you is planning to burn down this church tonight." You would be shocked! The twelve disciples were shocked when Jesus told them that one of them would betray Him. They could not believe it. Each one of them asked Jesus, "Surely not I, Lord?" Also, Judas asked that question.

Jesus was chiefly warning Judas and thinking about His suffering and death which would happen soon. But He is also warning all of them especially Peter. Peter will deny Him later on this night, which is as bad as Judas' betrayal. The other disciples will be offended when Jesus is arrested and forsake Him.

"Surely not I, Lord?" To each one of them Jesus could answer the same as He answered to Judas, "Yes, you!" They were His disciples, but they did not understand His purpose on earth, His death. Also, they did not expect Him to arise from death. They were His disciples, but they will (would) deny Him betray Him and forsake Him this night. They before were so bold and bragging (self-confident).

Perhaps we are thinking, "Wow, (Well) I'm glad that I am not the likes of Judas or Peter or the other disciples. I would never betray Jesus. I would never deny Jesus. I would never forsake Jesus!" Is that true? Perhaps we have already betrayed Jesus, denied Him and forsaken Him. If we would ask Jesus tonight, "I, Lord?" I'm sure He could answer to each one of us, "Yes, it is you!" Each one of us must confess: "Yes, it is I! I have betrayed Him; I have denied Him; I have forsaken Him.

Two-thirds of our members are not here tonight. Many of them have no good excuse. Are they not forsaking Him? They must confess, "It is I, Lord!" Some of you are here but not giving attention to God's Word tonight. Are you not forsaking Him? You, too, must confess, "Yes, it is I Lord!" Some church members give only one or two percent to their income to support Jesus' work when they are able to 5, 10, or 15 percent. They too, must confess. "It is I, Lord!" Some who give 10% for the Lord's work do it with the wrong heart and spirit. They also must confess,"It is I, Lord!" Often we come here to church and are not really eager to worship God and sing His praises. For that half hearted service we must confess, "It is I, Lord!" Often we fail to witness to those who do not belong to any church. We seem to feel not responsible that they will be lost in hell. For that shirking of our responsibility we must confess, "It is I, Lord!"

Now that we realize our sin union with Judas, Peter, and the other disciples we must pray the same as the Tax Collector in the temple prayed, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner."

Having said that, we can rejoice that God has shown mercy. Jesus tells us that the Tax Collector went home, with his sins forgiven (justified). Jesus forgave Peter his sin, his denial. Jesus forgave the other disciples, and after His resurrection gave them the commission to go and baptize and preach the Gospel to all nations. Jesus also would have forgiven Judas, but Judas despaired and hanged himself.

That is why He established His Holy Supper that evening in the upper room. With the bread and the wine He offers His body and blood to you and me as a seal of His mercy and forgiveness. Have you fallen like Peter, or run from Jesus' will this week? Jesus gives you His body and blood. Have you been a careless steward of His gifts? There is forgiveness for you. Don't despair as Judas did. Don't think that you must pay for your sins. God forgives because His Son Jesus has paid. His body, and blood says this is true. And this eating renews our faith, love and commitment so that we really can be the disciples Jesus would have us be.

This Sacrament gives power for service. It enabled those first disciples to go and preach the Gospel to all nations. Later most of them sacrificed their lives in the Gospel ministry rather than deny Him.

What really goes on when we come here to the altar to eat and drink? It isn't just a devotional exercise. It isn't just a way of saying that we are members of __________ Lutheran Church, but it is God at work saying to us: "Look, this is what My Son the Christ did for you. He gave up His body and blood on the cross. Look, He did it for you, that you be linked again with the power of God for your life and behavior. Look, He did it for you so that you have love and concern for the others who are receiving the Sacrament with you at this moment, that you realize yourself welded into a company and body with them whose Head is Jesus Christ. Look, He did it for you so that you have the will to go and give yourself for men, women and children of your world just as He gave up this very body and blood that you are receiving, gave them up for you, for you."

And so tonight as we eat and drink the body and blood of our Lord, we remember everything for which He gave His life, that we might really be His disciples in our world today and follow His example of sacrifice and loving, humble service.

Amen.