The Words

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Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

What is the Sacrament of the Altar?

That’s a good place to start. We’ve got to know what it is first before we discuss its blessings and benefits. Ask this question and you’ll get loads of answers from various people: a symbol… a ceremony… a sacrament… a sign… even a sacrifice. But the only answer that holds is what comes from the Lord Himself. He ought to know. After all, He instituted and mandated this Sacrament on the night when He was betrayed. It’s His Supper. It is His last will and testament. He speaks His words. He connects His words to physical elements. His words are the chief thing. What is most important are His words.

So let’s listen to the words of our Lord Jesus once again: “As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks He broke it and gave it to His disciples saying, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.’ 

“In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’”

There you have it. Bread. “Jesus took bread.” And with it He gives something. “This is My Body.” Wine. “He took the cup.” And with the cup of wine He gives His Blood. “This cup is the new testament in My blood.”

These are the words of Jesus the Lord Almighty, the divine Majesty. With His words He created the entire universe.  He said, “Let there be…” and there was! There’s no other God than this man Jesus Christ.

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him. He doesn’t ask for our advice. Doesn’t consult the disciples, Dr. Phil, or Oprah. Doesn’t take an anonymous survey or call for a voters’ meeting to see what the people want. He just gives His words. And with His words He gives a gift for you Christians. He says what He says. He gives exactly what He says. And what’s that?

With the Passover bread He gives His Body. With the cup of Passover wine He gives His Blood. He says so. “Take and eat. This is My Body.” “Take and drink. This is My Blood.” Just as they did long ago during the six days of creation, His words do and give exactly what they say. Jesus says, “This is…” and it is!

Which Body does He give? The Body conceived in the womb and born of the virgin Mary? Yes. The Body that walked throughout Galilee and Judea preaching and performing miraculous signs? Yes. The Body that suffered under Pontius Pilate and died on the Cross? Yes. The Body that rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and sits at the Father’s right hand? Of course. He doesn’t have a different one! That’s the only Body He has.    

What Blood? The Blood that was first shed in fulfillment of righteousness when He was circumcised on the eighth day? Yes. The Blood He sweat in the Garden of Gethsemane? Yes. The Blood that flowed from His beaten head crowned with thorns? Yes. The Blood that poured from His gaping wounds on the Cross? Of course. He’s got no other Blood.

The hymn we just sang confesses this truth: 

“King of kings yet born of Mary,

As of old on earth He stood,

Lord of lords in human vesture,

In the body and the blood,

He will give to all the faithful

His own self for heavenly food.” (LSB 621:2)

So it’s the all-atoning and full of mercy Calvary Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus that He gives you Christians to eat and drink.

Yes, that’s right. For you Christians to eat and drink with your mouths at the altar. Not to sacrifice again and again in the Mass. Not to sit and stare at. Not to enshrine in a glass case and parade around town. But Jesus gives you His born of the Virgin Mary, Good Friday Body to eat with the bread. He gives you His Good Friday Blood to drink in the cup of wine.

By virtue of His words Jesus gives you His Body and His Blood. We confess in the Large Catechism: “When the Word is joined to the external element, it becomes a sacrament” (LC 468:10). A sacred act, instituted by God, with a visible element, that offers the forgiveness of sins earned by Christ.

Take away Christ’s words and all you have are bread and wine. With Christ’s words you have bread, wine, Body, and Blood. “For as Christ’s lips [Mund] speak and say, so it is; He cannot lie or deceive” (LC 468:14).

“What is the Sacrament of the Altar? It is the true Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and drink” (Small Catechism).

How can this be? Christ says so. And He still says so. Through His called and ordained servants who speak His words Jesus celebrates the Sacrament of the Altar every Divine Service. “Take, eat,” He says. “This is My Body. Drink of it, all of you, this cup is the new testament in My blood.”

In and by the power of His words we have exactly what He says and gives—His very Body and Blood. And as often as you eat and drink this Body and Blood you are forgiven of all of your sins. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.