Encore Post: In today’s installment of our walk through the liturgy, we will spend some time talking about the first part of the “Words of our Lord” namely the words concerning the bread.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”
We should remember that this was a Passover Meal, commemorating God’s greatest act of salvation to date for Israel. However, on this night the meal between Jesus and His Disciples, would begin to unveil the act of salvation to which the Passover points and is fulfilled once and for all by his all availing sacrifice at the cross.
Dr. Arthur Just, Jr. in his fabulous book Heaven on Earth: The Gifts of Christ in the Divine Service, lays out the events that take during a “Passover Meal”, for a sketch of the events of the Passover meal liturgy see pages 59-62. We learn that there is eating then teaching at the table, where the story of the exodus would be retold and the food interpreted accordingly, followed by more eating, etc.
Luke is the most thorough Gospel concerning the events of Jesus’ Last Supper, telling us about two cups of wine (See Luke 22:17-18 and 22:20). They are not the same cup, according to Passover Liturgy.
As part of the Passover Meal Liturgy, the food itself would be interpreted by the host of meal. This is where the words of institution come into play. Jesus interprets the bread concerning himself! And it is given up “on behalf of you” (Luke 22:19). In the other accounts, there is no atonement language spoken over the bread. Thanks be to God for multiple accounts from the Gospels, catching and pointing out each detail so that our theology may be as rich as possible. Christ’s body is part of the sacrifice for our atonement!
Let us also note: Jesus words concerning the breading being his body. Is means Is! There is no way around what Jesus says. There is no other way to interpret Jesus own words. This is My Body. What we get when we receive the Sacrament is exactly what Jesus says we get: His Body. This is the same body given up for you at the cross, buried, and raised on the third day. This is the same body as the body which ascended to the right hand of the Father.
How it literally happens, we will never know on this side of heaven. That is why it is called a Sacrament: Mystery. We will look at the second part of the words of our Lord concerning the cup next.
Rev. Jacob Hercamp
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
La Grange, MO
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Why don’t we recognize HIS blood as a Covenant? A promise that can’t be broken!
Hi John,
Great question. The Greek word used in the institution of the Sacrament of the Altar can be translated as either covenant or testament. Hebrews is helpful here to tell us that this is Christ’s “Last will and testament” and it is enacted upon the death of Christ the next day. You should see it as both a covenant and testament. Primarily it is the purest Gospel promise we have. By the blood of Christ shed for us at the cross, we have forgiveness of sins. When we eat and drink Christ’s body and blood, we receive the benefits of Christ’s work at the cross. We eat and drink the crucified and risen Lord’s body and blood for forgiveness of sins, strengthening of our faith, and our everlasting life.
A rich and Spirit filled commentary. Thank you.
George,
Thank you for reading the blog, and thank you for the kind words. Christ be praised, I am glad it was a blessing to you.