Introduction: Leonardo da Vinci took three years to finish his mural of The Last Supper still gracing the Santa Maria Delle Grazia convent in Milan, Italy. Portraying John s gospel record of Jesus Passover celebration with His disciples, da Vinci tried to capture before digital cameras with high resolution megapixel precision the expressions of Jesus disciples dialogue of denial when the Savior revealed, I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me (John 13:21ff). Although not conveyed by the mural, three gospel writers and St. Paul reveal the new covenant meal Jesus established. For on this Maundy Thursday evening, Jesus instituted The Lord s Supper. Jesus words detail that in, with and under the bread and wine, He offers His true body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. In fact, Jesus instructs His disciples and us to Do this [partake of Holy Communion] (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:25) in remembrance of Him. While Jesus doesn t visibly sit down at the table to celebrate His Holy Supper with us this evening as He did on that first Maundy Thursday evening with His disciples, He does promise in this I tell you the truth statement, He will, but not Until I Drink It Anew With You In The Kingdom Of God (In the meantime ) 1) Commemorate the Lord s Supper remembering God s deliverance. A. Jesus commemorated the Passover with His disciples recalling God s physical rescue of their ancestor Israelites from slavery (Exodus 12:1-13). 1. The LORD of free and faithful grace rescued the Israelites from Egyptian slavery 1500 years earlier. Even after nine dramatic plagues devastating animals, land and man, Pharaoh hardened his heart in unbelief refusing to free God s people. But then came the Passover. 2. The LORD instructed His people to slaughter a year old male lamb without blemish or defect. He ordered the people to smear the lamb s blood on the wooded door frames of their houses so the angel of death would pass over only taking the first-born of those not blood-protected. But during this Passover Meal commemoration B. Jesus instituted The Lord s Supper [Jesus new meal] proclaiming revealing God s spiritual rescue from sin.
1. Paul described Jesus in view of Good Friday s crucifixion as Christ, our Passover Lamb, [who] has been sacrificed (1 Corinthians 5:7). 2. Jesus gave His disciples/us tangible proof of His sacrificial love as Mark records: While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take it; this is my body. Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Appropriation: Dear Friends in Christ: You re feet are dirty and stinky! (Had a roommate in college who had horribly smelly feet. Dr. Scholl s inserts or foot powder didn t work.) Jesus demonstrated how His disciples needed cleansing; Jesus washed their feet as a servant would (John 13:3-16). But it s not just their feet or our feet that were/are dirty. Our souls are filthy and need to be spiritually washed and cleaned. Paul confirms so: All have sinned, and the wages of sin is death (Romans 3:23; 6:23) But what Dr. Scholl s or Oxiclean can t do, God s servant (Isaiah 42:1) Jesus did do by shedding His blood on the cross. The LORD promised, Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool (Isaiah 1:18). For as John the Baptizer says, [Jesus is] the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Transition: St. Paul reminds us, For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord s death until he comes (1 Corinthians 11:26). Every time we celebrate the Lord s Supper, we publicly confess that Jesus took away our sins by His death on the cross. But we also profess that we look forward to His triumphant return to take us to heaven since Jesus promises, I when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God. In the meantime... 2) Celebrate the Lord s Supper anticipating God s kingdom. A. Jesus put into effect this last will and testament. 1. When one has an attorney compose a last will and testament five things become necessary: 1) a testator, the creator of the will; 2) the receiver(s) or heir(s); 3) a method of effectuation, the means by which the will becomes effective (by death); 4) a testator s promissory signature,
outlines what is passed on to the heir(s); and 5) the actual inheritance, the benefit left. God s will is summarized in 2. John 3:16 For God (the Testator) loved the world (the heirs) so much that He gave (into death) His one-and-only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him would not perish (the Testator s signature promise) but have everlasting life (the inheritance). B. Jesus last will and testament in His Holy Supper continues to live on and bless. 1. Luther scripturally answers in his Small Catechism the question, What blessing do we receive through this eating and drinking? He states, That is shown us by these words, Given and poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. 2. Jesus himself assures: This is my body and This is my blood not represents or symbolizes that was shed on the cross for you. It remains a human mystery how this real presence can be. But we sing with the hymn writer: Though reason cannot understand, Yet faith this truth embraces: Your body, Lord, is everywhere, At once in many places. I leave to you how this can be; Your Word alone suffices me; I trust its truth unfailing (CW 312:5). Appropriation: Dear brothers and sisters in Jesus: Have we ever felt, I can understand how God would forgive others, but I find it hard to believe he would really forgive me? But in this Sacrament Jesus gives us individually and personally His true body and blood, the very purchase price of our redemption. That s why Luther points us to those comforting, powerful words: for you. Conclusion: Dear fellow redeemed: Sadly, after Leonardo da Vinci completed his masterpiece of The Last Supper in 1498, it immediately started to deteriorate. Da Vinci used new materials for this mural; instead of using the customary wet plaster he used dry plaster. The dry worked artistically, but didn t have durability. It started flaking and the mural of today is totally rejuvenated and technically not the original. Jesus instituted and gave us His true body and blood in, with and under the bread and wine. We still have the original and it remains powerfully effective! And because Jesus lived perfectly, died sacrificially and rose victoriously, we continue to have Savior who is the same yesterday, today and forever
(Hebrews 13:8). He promises to return, and take us glorified body and soul to be with Him in heaven, where we will eat and drink anew with Him, face to face, (1 Corinthians 13:12) in His heavenly kingdom Amen. 22While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take it; this is my body. 23Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many, he said to them. 25 I when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God. GWN Mark 14:22-25 (Matthew 26:26-30; Luke 22:15-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25) 22While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them and said, Take it; this is My body. 23Then He took a cup, spoke a prayer of thanks, and gave it to them. And they all drank of it. 24He told them, This is My blood of the last will and testament, which is being poured out for many. 25 I tell you the truth, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it in a new way in the Kingdom of God.
1001 Mark 14:22-25 Until I Drink It Anew With You In The Kingdom of God 1) Commemorate the Lord s Supper remembering God s deliverance 2) Celebrate the Lord s Supper anticipating God s kingdom Maundy Thursday 104, 268, 129, 135, 119 April 2, 2015 St. John s Evangelical Lutheran Church Frankenmuth, MI 22While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take it; this is my body. 23Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many, he said to them. 25 I when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.