Maundy Thursday Communion

April 4, 1996

I woke up this morning with the music of that song in my head:

"Precious Lamb of glory—
Love's most wondrous story,
Heart of God's redemption of man—
Worship the Lamb of glory."

At the Passover meal which Jesus at with his disciples the evening of Good Friday, as the Jews counted their days, they sang from the Psalms of their love for God who had delivered them from Egyptian bondage.

They sang "I love the Lord, for He has heard my voice!" They sang, "What shall I give to the Lord for all His mercies to me?" And they sang the answer, all from Psalm 116, "I will lift up the cup of salvation! I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving!"

At the Passover meal which Jesus transformed into what we call Communion, Jesus told the disciples, "I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also must love one another." The room was full of love that evening. I think of another song we sing once in a while, a song that has a marching cadence that may rush us past some of the wonder that is expressed:

"I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus, the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me . . .
He took my sins and my sorrows and made them his own,
He bore the burden to Calvary . . ."

And that night He took off his outer garment— in our language, he took off his jacket— poured water into a basin, and washed the disciples' feet. The Prince of Peace, the Creator, the Savior of the world, washed OUR feet.

Jesus cared! That night the room was full of love, and of forgiveness even for the cowardice and abandonment that lay just ahead. And it was then that Jesus said, "As I have loved you, so you love one another!"

That Great Commandment of Jesus is the hope of the church. If we determine that with God's help we will care for one another we will not only survive, but we will be the most attractive thing in the world. The Great Commandment of Jesus actually is the hope of the world. For if the church were to succeed in fulfilling the Great Commission to go into all the world and make disciples, and the entire world was compelled to become Christian— but we forgot to love one another, we would not be the church, but some other human organization. The only reason people would want to be a part of the church is if in fact we try to obey the Great Commandment jesus gave that Thursday evening, that first Good Friday Eve before he was betrayed.

In our little corner of the Church of Jesus Christ we have the opportunity to either take seriously and obey the Great Commandment, or, to let it go by as just another impractical and impossible Quixotic goal. In the small community where we live we hurt and bruise each other. If we wait for the one who is to blame to initiate the love we may wait a long time because probably no one intends to wound his brother, or her sister— it just happens along the way.

So what shall we do with the Commandment?

As we come to the Table of the Lord, by faith— by the grace of jesus Himself— we are at an extension of that Passover of nearly 2,000 years ago. The very same Savior, by the Presence of His Holy Spirit, is with us this evening. The very same Commandment is our challenge this evening. It is a challenge for me, I will confess! There is something in me that clings to hurt and pain and says, "This isn't fair!" It is not easy to let go and say, "God helping me I will simply love my brothers and sisters without assigning blame to anyone! God helping me, I will accept the free grace of Jesus for my own shortcomings, and ask Him to help me pray the Lord's Prayer all the way through and mean it!

Invitation to Communion

April 4, 1996 - Continuation from meditation:

Scripture (I Corinthians 11:23 - 30)

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body that is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Whoever, therefore, east the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord. Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves. For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. [NRSV]

Apostles' Creed (#8)

Invitation to the Table of the Lord:

Jesus Himself is the Host.

Examine your heart. If He bids you come, you are welcome.

Prayer of Confession/Forgiveness

The "holiest" among us needs every moment the grace of God; we are not holy in and of ourselves. We come short of the perfect will of God in performance, and all too often, we lag in spirit, are insensitive in our relationships, and act more to our own self interest than for the kingdom of God and the salvation of others.

For this we ask your forgiveness— purchase of your blood on Calvary.

We claim your promise: (I John 1:7,9) If we confess our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Prayer of Dedication

We ask that we may have your ASSURANCE that we have been CHOSEN of you to be your sons and daughters.

We ask that you will give us our ASSIGNMENT, not just our "big" assignment for life's career, but our day-by-day assignment of introducing You to those we know.

We ask that You will help us ACCEPT Your revealed will, and put you at the center of our lives, in all we do.

We ask that as we partake of these emblems of bread and the cup they may be for us true means of grace, by faith may we partake of your body and blood to our soul's life and health.

Lord's Prayer - (Instructions. Come, receive, and hold the bread and the cup and we will partake together.)

At the moment of partaking: The BODY of the Lord Jesus Christ: (may it) Preserve you blameless to life everlasting.

Again, with the cup: The BLOOD of the Lord Jesus Christ: Preserve you blameless to life everlasting.

#220 Lamb of Glory - Into Tennebrae -