An invitation to come
The question is asked, “Why ought we to remember and proclaim His death?” The answer is
given in three parts. This shall be the basis of our meditation this night.
I.
That we may learn to look with terror at our sins, and
to regard them as great indeed.
The anger of an offended God is what Jesus faced.
Consider His cry from the cross, “My God,
My God, why have you forsaken me?!” Without Christ this is our cry!
We can claim nothing before God. Luther’s deathbed
remarks remind us, “We are only beggars!”
Luther further teaches, “Fasting and bodily preparation is, indeed, a fine outward training; but
he is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words, "Given,
and shed for you for the remission of sins." But he that does not believe
these words, or doubts, is unworthy and unprepared; for the words, "For
you," require all hearts to believe.”
It is our joy and honor in this congregation often to
receive Jesus’ Supper which he instituted for our comfort. In his body and
blood, given and shed for us to eat and drink, Jesus forgives our sins,
strengthens our faith, and increases our hope.
The whole Christ; true God and true man, is offered
from our altar in, with, and under the elements of bread and wine. But how are
we to meet him worthily?
Faith is the only thing required! There are no heroic
preliminary works required to prove that you are spiritual enough. There are no
benchmarks of holiness to surpass. Only learn to confess the fact that you are
a weak sinner and that in the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood you will
find grace.
By eating and drinking Jesus’ body and blood with
trust in his promise connected to these elements, there is no condemnation, no
punishment, no law to hold you back from your heavenly Father’s kindness.
Transition: As we look at our sins we must ask ourselves, “How
do I stand?”
II.
That we may learn to believe that no creature could
make satisfaction for our sins but Christ, true God and man.
That we may learn to believe that no creature could
make satisfaction for our sins.
But only Jesus can make satisfaction for sin. Consider
His two natures; He is both - true God and man, yet only one Christ.
Jesus is true God. This is necessary for only God can
save. At the same time Jesus is truly human. This too is necessary for it is a
human who fell headlong into sin.
Peter calls Jesus, “the Holy and Righteous One” - Acts 3:14
while Peter says that Christ “went around
doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil because God
was with Him.”- Acts 10:38
The writer to the
Hebrews says Jesus was “without sin.”
- 4:15 Jesus lived a sinless life for you.
Jesus was active in His living a perfect life for you. Jesus did
everything the law requires.
Jesus’ atoning death
– He took your sin as His own and died in your place. In His Suffering and
dying all sin was paid for – period!
- "The next day john saw Jesus
coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin
of the world!" - John 1:29
In the Gospel, a righteousness from God is revealed, a
righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
-Romans 1:17
The Scriptures teach that men cannot be justified
before God by their own strength, merits, or works, but are freely justified
for Christ’s sake. They are justified through faith, when they believe that
they are received into favor, and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake,
who by His death, has made satisfaction for our sins.
That we may obtain this faith, the ministry of teaching
the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. [Augsburg Conf,
Article IV]
Transition: As Christ has forgiven us at the bloody cross we not
take great comfort in His redeeming work.
III.
To find joy and comfort in Him alone and thus be save
through such faith.
To find joy and comfort in Him alone – J. S. Bach put
it this way: “Jesu joy of man’s desiring.
Holy wisdom, Love most bright. Drawn by Thee, our souls aspiring. Souring to
uncreated light. Word of God, our flesh that fashioned. With the fire of life
impassioned, Striving still to truth unknown, souring, dying round Thy throne.”
And thus we are saved through such faith. It is a
faith which clings to Jesus’ merit alone. Faith is a reliance on the gospel
promise. You trust in the person and work of Christ. Faith is not a vague,
“faith in God,” or a merely generic faith in the Bible, but a specific trust
that holds on to Jesus as its sole focus.
Faith is a hearty trust in the grace and goodness of
God as experienced and revealed through his Word. Faith is nothing more than
clinging to Christ and the promises of the gospel. Faith is resting in Christ
and not in your own works. Faith is the confidence that God is good and true to
his promise of grace to those who believe. It is the drowning victim which
clings to the life line. Jesus is your life-line.
Come, come weary sinners, come to the foot of the
cross for all things are now ready!
Passive Sentences –10%
Readability –78.6%
Reading Level –5.6
Maundy Thursday image copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
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