The Last Supper

I recently was on Facebook and saw where a pastor posted something about communion being the real body and blood of Christ and someone else came on and said that that belief was ridiculous.  He then proceeded to ask the question if Jesus was truly the door, or a gate.  My first response was to argue with this man, I even told him he was calling Jesus a liar which did not make him my friend.

 Upon further reflection as to why I believe Christ when he says “This IS my blood, this IS my body, is because of the context of what Christ was saying.  When Christ calls himself the door, or a gate, he is talking to the Jewish people in a manner so they can understand the story he is telling.  You see Jesus is telling them about the Good Shepherd and his sheep in John 10.  He then proceeds to tell his story by saying “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep, I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved”. (John 10:7 and 9)

When He says this is His blood he is making a promise.  There isn’t any explanation here, but just a pure promise.  Let’s take a look at this event, Christ and his disciples have met for the last time before Christ’s sacrifice.  They met for their Passover supper.  They are eating and going through their traditional Passover meal.  Jesus calls out Judas and then goes directly into the new tradition.   Luke says, “When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table.  And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God” ( Luke 22:14 – 16)  Matthew says, “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.  Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.  This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.  I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:26-31).  This is a promise!  Christ is saying “You won’t be able to find Me soon, but if you look here in this sacrament this is where I will be.”

I fully believe Christ when he says this; I also fully believe we are to do this for the forgiveness of our sins.  Since we sin daily I feel we should all crave this forgiveness daily.  In fact in the Large Catechism by Martin Luther he agrees.  He says when we do not crave this Holy Communion the devil is laughing and wins, for we do not realize how much we need Christ.  For Communion helps us to believe, love, pray and fight against the devil (Paraphrased from the Large Catechism part 5 paragraphs 85 and follows)

Let us Pray:

Lord come into our hearts and help us realize how much we need you.  Let us know we cannot go on alone without you in our lives daily.  Help us crave your Holy Communion as often as we can receive it, and wish we could have it more.