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Maundy Thursday – April 17^th, 2025 Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, Block, Kansas Rev. Joshua Woelmer Text: 1 Corinthians 11:23–32; John 13:1–15 “Our Need for the Sacrament” Theme: The purpose of the Sacrament is to strengthen and comfort repentant believers in Christ. Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Remembrance can be powerful. It’s part of being human. As individuals, we remember key moments in our lives. We remember graduation day, the day of our wedding, birth of our first child, and so many good and bad things. We also remember with other people. It seems every time we gather, we are sharing our remembrances with each other, as families, as church, as communities, as sports fan bases, and even as a nation. We remember heroic victories and disappointing defeats. We remember winning the World Wars, even if we had not been born yet, and we remember 9/11—again, even if you had not been born yet. The problem with memories is that they can only do so much, especially in times of trouble. When you are diagnosed with cancer and are undergoing chemo or radiation, what you need is your spouse NOW to be with you, not memories of your spouse thirty years ago. Likewise, remembrance plays a huge role in Holy Communion and in our relationship to God. We shouldn’t disregard it. But there is also more than just remembrance. There is giving and presence and care that God shows personally to you in the Sacrament. First, let us look at remembrance. Jesus mentions it twice in the Words of Institution: “Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Cor 11:24, 25). We celebrate this meal to recall the salvation of Jesus. This was the primary purpose of the Passover too. God saved the people from the Egyptians by punishing Egypt with the ten plagues, the last of which killed all the firstborn. The Israelites’ firstborn were saved by celebrating the Passover and putting the blood of the lamb on their doorposts and lintel. Later God would lead them through the Red Sea to save them from the chariots of Egypt. God wanted them to remember this act of salvation by celebrating this same meal year after year, with parents telling children why they were doing all this. Especially today, we remember with a meal what would happen the very next day after Jesus celebrated this meal for the last time with His disciples: He would die on the cross. However, Jesus changes this meal from merely a memorial meal to something greater. For one, he used different elements. Instead of lamb, bitter herbs, and unleavened bread, Jesus took the bread, said “This is my body,” took the cup of wine and said, “This is my blood.” This changes everything. The Lord’s Supper is more than the memorial meal that many other Protestants suggest it is. We do not need to conjure up a mental image or projection of Jesus dying on the cross for the Lord’s Supper to be effective. Rather, there is a real presence in the Supper: Christ’s body and blood. We do not know how this happens, it is a mystery. When you receive the bread and wine, Jesus attaches His body and blood to the elements. There God is loving you and is coming closer to you than any human ever gets, since you eat his divine body and drink his live-giving blood. Your God is with you. He is not a God afar off. He is close to you, yes, even on your lips and in your body. God is pleased to dwell with you. Where does He want to be? Here, in the Sacrament. Here, in the Word. Here, in the waters of Holy Baptism. How often does Jesus want to come to you? Often. As often as possible. Not only do we receive the real presence of Jesus, but He gives us forgiveness, life and salvation. How often do we need to be reminded of these gifts? Often, for we daily sin much. The Sacrament is a reminder to us that Jesus loves us and forgives us. The Sacrament also has effects on us. One of our Post-Communion Collects even voices this for us. We pray, “we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another” The purpose of the Sacrament is to strengthen and comfort repentant believers in Christ. God is pleased to dwell with you. You take Him with you when you leave the Sacrament. Your sins are forgiven, your conscience is clean. St. John Chrysostom, an early church father, had this to say: “Let us then return from the [Communion] table like lions breathing fire, having become terrible to the devil; thinking on [Christ] and on the love that He has shown for us.” Be strengthened in your faith and in your fight against the temptations and accusations of the devil. We can go away from the Sacrament happy for what lies ahead. Imagine a boxer who has had a brief rest and is ready for another round. Secondly, the Sacrament would strengthen us for fervent love toward one another. This applies first to those we share the meal with. You eat this Sacrament with those gathered here. There is both a vertical and a horizontal dimension here. If you have eaten Christ’s body and blood, and so has the person next to you, how can you hold any sins against them? How can you still be angry with them or hate them? God has forgiven you, and he has forgiven them. The slates are all wiped clean, unless you still harbor something evil in your heart despite what God has given you. If so, then you have eaten the Lord’s Supper not for blessing but for judgment. Let your neighbor’s sin go. Forgive them as the Lord has forgiven you. Love them in the truth of God’s Word. After all, this is what we hear from Jesus: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34–35). Of course, this does not only apply to those we rub shoulders with here in church. God would have us take this love out to the world, that more would come to know the love of Christ. Even though we practice closed communion, that is for the purpose of bringing more people to knowledge and truth of what is given in here, that they would know it truly, love it, and receive it with us. Finally, I have the honor of bringing communion to our shut-ins who are not always able to come to church. There are some things that you do not know what you have until it is taken away from you. They have a desire to be in church and to receive the Lord’s Supper. It connects them to their Lord and to the communion happening here. It would be rude and incorrect of me to say, “Well, just remember in your mind what it was like to receive communion. Or, just remember in your mind what Jesus did on the cross.” Remembrance may be good, but a greater thing is necessary. Jesus gives them and us that greater thing: his body and blood given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins and union with God and fellow believers. Now may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen. Return to Top \| Return to Sermons \| Home \| Email Church Office

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Maundy Thursday – April 17^th, 2025

Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, Block, Kansas

Rev. Joshua Woelmer

Text: 1 Corinthians 11:23–32; John 13:1–15

“Our Need for the Sacrament”

Theme: The purpose of the Sacrament is to strengthen and comfort repentant believers in Christ.

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Remembrance can be powerful. It’s part of being human. As individuals, we remember key moments in our lives. We remember graduation day, the day of our wedding, birth of our first child, and so many good and bad things. We also remember with other people. It seems every time we gather, we are sharing our remembrances with each other, as families, as church, as communities, as sports fan bases, and even as a nation. We remember heroic victories and disappointing defeats. We remember winning the World Wars, even if we had not been born yet, and we remember 9/11—again, even if you had not been born yet.

The problem with memories is that they can only do so much, especially in times of trouble. When you are diagnosed with cancer and are undergoing chemo or radiation, what you need is your spouse NOW to be with you, not memories of your spouse thirty years ago.

Likewise, remembrance plays a huge role in Holy Communion and in our relationship to God. We shouldn’t disregard it. But there is also more than just remembrance. There is giving and presence and care that God shows personally to you in the Sacrament.

First, let us look at remembrance. Jesus mentions it twice in the Words of Institution: “Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Cor 11:24, 25). We celebrate this meal to recall the salvation of Jesus. This was the primary purpose of the Passover too. God saved the people from the Egyptians by punishing Egypt with the ten plagues, the last of which killed all the firstborn. The Israelites’ firstborn were saved by celebrating the Passover and putting the blood of the lamb on their doorposts and lintel. Later God would lead them through the Red Sea to save them from the chariots of Egypt. God wanted them to remember this act of salvation by celebrating this same meal year after year, with parents telling children why they were doing all this.

Especially today, we remember with a meal what would happen the very next day after Jesus celebrated this meal for the last time with His disciples: He would die on the cross. However, Jesus changes this meal from merely a memorial meal to something greater. For one, he used different elements. Instead of lamb, bitter herbs, and unleavened bread, Jesus took the bread, said “This is my body,” took the cup of wine and said, “This is my blood.”

This changes everything. The Lord’s Supper is more than the memorial meal that many other Protestants suggest it is. We do not need to conjure up a mental image or projection of Jesus dying on the cross for the Lord’s Supper to be effective. Rather, there is a real presence in the Supper: Christ’s body and blood. We do not know how this happens, it is a mystery.

When you receive the bread and wine, Jesus attaches His body and blood to the elements. There God is loving you and is coming closer to you than any human ever gets, since you eat his divine body and drink his live-giving blood. Your God is with you. He is not a God afar off. He is close to you, yes, even on your lips and in your body. God is pleased to dwell with you.

Where does He want to be? Here, in the Sacrament. Here, in the Word. Here, in the waters of Holy Baptism. How often does Jesus want to come to you? Often. As often as possible. Not only do we receive the real presence of Jesus, but He gives us forgiveness, life and salvation. How often do we need to be reminded of these gifts? Often, for we daily sin much. The Sacrament is a reminder to us that Jesus loves us and forgives us.

The Sacrament also has effects on us. One of our Post-Communion Collects even voices this for us. We pray, “we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another” The purpose of the Sacrament is to strengthen and comfort repentant believers in Christ. God is pleased to dwell with you. You take Him with you when you leave the Sacrament. Your sins are forgiven, your conscience is clean. St. John Chrysostom, an early church father, had this to say: “Let us then return from the [Communion] table like lions breathing fire, having become terrible to the devil; thinking on [Christ] and on the love that He has shown for us.” Be strengthened in your faith and in your fight against the temptations and accusations of the devil. We can go away from the Sacrament happy for what lies ahead. Imagine a boxer who has had a brief rest and is ready for another round.

Secondly, the Sacrament would strengthen us for fervent love toward one another. This applies first to those we share the meal with. You eat this Sacrament with those gathered here. There is both a vertical and a horizontal dimension here. If you have eaten Christ’s body and blood, and so has the person next to you, how can you hold any sins against them? How can you still be angry with them or hate them? God has forgiven you, and he has forgiven them. The slates are all wiped clean, unless you still harbor something evil in your heart despite what God has given you. If so, then you have eaten the Lord’s Supper not for blessing but for judgment. Let your neighbor’s sin go. Forgive them as the Lord has forgiven you. Love them in the truth of God’s Word. After all, this is what we hear from Jesus: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34–35).

Of course, this does not only apply to those we rub shoulders with here in church. God would have us take this love out to the world, that more would come to know the love of Christ. Even though we practice closed communion, that is for the purpose of bringing more people to knowledge and truth of what is given in here, that they would know it truly, love it, and receive it with us.

Finally, I have the honor of bringing communion to our shut-ins who are not always able to come to church. There are some things that you do not know what you have until it is taken away from you. They have a desire to be in church and to receive the Lord’s Supper. It connects them to their Lord and to the communion happening here. It would be rude and incorrect of me to say, “Well, just remember in your mind what it was like to receive communion. Or, just remember in your mind what Jesus did on the cross.” Remembrance may be good, but a greater thing is necessary. Jesus gives them and us that greater thing: his body and blood given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins and union with God and fellow believers.

Now may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen.

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