Dear Christian friends:

When Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper almost two-thousand years ago he did not actually give it a name. Christians have called it the "Lord's Supper," simply because he instituted it. And, without a doubt is the most popular name for it today, and its a good one. Another name for it is the "Sacrament of the Altar." That probably is more popular with pastors and theologians.

It is also a good name, for the word "sacrament" means a holy act commanded by God in which certain visible elements are used, and which offers and gives the forgiveness of sins. Another beautiful name for the Lord's Supper is "The Eucharist." "Eucharist" is from the Greek and means "Thanksgiving."

Certain liturgies for the Lord's Supper begin with a long prayer of thanksgiving, therefore the name "Eucharist." Another name we commonly use is "Holy Communion." This also is a beautiful and appropriate name for it. And it is the name given to it by St. Paul.

He says, in our text, "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?" This name emphasizes certain important aspects of the Lord's Supper that are not often presented. So this evening on the basis of our text we consider:


Sin has separated us from God and one another.

Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden had perfect communion or fellowship with God. Sadly, as you know, that didn't last very long. Because of Adam and Eve's sin we are not naturally in communion with God, just the opposite, separated and even at enmity with him, the Bible tells us. "The carnal mind is enmity against God."

Even after we are baptized and become Christians we are always in danger of breaking communion with God because we still have our sinful nature to resist and conquer. In the verses preceding our text St. Paul warns the Christians at Corinth about this. He cites the example of the Israelites in the wilderness under Moses.

We may not be tempted by golden calves, but we are tempted by materialism, hedonism, and the love of money. Also we have plenty of temptations in our modern la la land to fornication, and sexual immorality. It comes right into our homes through TV and videos. These sins break our communion with God.

Sin has also fractured our relationships with one another. We have broken marriages, broken homes, neighborhoods and gangs at war with each other; ethic groups and nations hating one another and savagely killing each other with high-tech weapons of mass destruction.

There are even fractures in the church communion as Paul experienced with the congregation at Corinth. We, also, here at Redeemer know about divisions and separations in the congregation. We also have it in the District and Synod and between Church bodies. Sometimes it is necessary for doctrinal reasons, but many times the cause is just plain old sin, pride and self-seeking, a lack of love for our brothers and sisters in the church family.

Therefore, the great need for Holy Communion. Jesus knew what he was doing when he instituted it almost two-thousand years ago this very evening. He knew that one of his disciples would betray him; that another would deny him, and that they all would forsake him that very night. He knew that we, his 20th century disciples would have the same temptations and failures. What a wise and gracious Savior!

In the Holy Communion we are reunited with God and with our fellow Christians; our baptismal covenant is renewed! We need to remember that the Lord's Supper came out of the Passover meal.

Four cups were passed around the table at the Passover meal. The third was known as the "cup of blessing," and was the cup Christ used to institute the Sacrament. Jesus did not drink the fourth cup, postponing it until he would drink it anew in his Father's heavenly kingdom. (Matthew 26:29)

In our text Paul says, "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? (verse 16) When we eat the bread and drink the wine we are joined with Jesus' body and blood. We are joined with his death on the cross. Paul said, "I am crucified with Christ." (Galatians 2:20)

Every Christian must confess that, and you are confessing that every time you come here to the Lord's Table to eat and drink.

In the Passover meal of the Old Testament, the Jews ate the meat of the lamb, which before had been slain by the priest and offered in the temple, that the family's sin might be forgiven. By this eating they were joined with the sacrificial lamb, and reunited with God! So in the New Testament when we eat the bread and drink the wine, the communion of the body and blood of the Lord, we are joined with him, the Lamb of God, who offered himself upon the cross to take away the sin of the world.

One old spiritual song asks the question: "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" We answer, "Yes, I was there! See I eat his body and drink his blood. His punishment is my punishment, his death is my death. Now I will not be punished; I am saved! I am at peace with God! I have been reunited with my God!"

It means also that we are reunited with fellow members of the body of Christ, his Church. In our text St. Paul says, "For we being many are one bread and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread." (verse 17)

St. Paul was not pleased with the way the Corinthian congregation was celebrating the Sacrament. They had been regarding it merely as a churchly custom and a chance for some revelry and showing off of wealth. He told them that was mockery and blasphemy.

As we eat and drink let us believe what both Jesus and St. Paul said about this mysterious supper: it is the very body and blood of our Lord, given for the forgiveness of our sins. It's for us, right where we need it, at this moment reuniting us with the heavenly Father, and with each other in the family of God in our common faith and mission.

Therefore let us try hard tonight to realize what is actually happening in the Holy Communion. Were not just doing it because its Maundy Thursday. We're not just doing it because everyone else is doing it and the pastor expects us to do it. We're doing it because God is at work here 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 my power for your life and your behavior.

Look, he did it for you so that you have a concern for your brothers and sisters who are receiving the sacrament with you this evening, that you forgive them and love them and serve them, that you realize you are joined in a family, a body whose Head is Jesus Christ.

Look, He did it for you so that you have the will to go and give yourself of your congregation, town, state and world just as He gave up this very body and blood that you are consuming, gave them up for you, for you.

As we come to the Lord's Table this evening and in the future let us remember that it is a holy communion, reuniting us with God, our heavenly Father and with Jesus the Son, that we may love and serve Him by loving and serving each other and the world, following His example of sacrifice and love.

Amen