March 28, 2024 – Maundy Thursday Text: Luke 22:7-20
Dear Friends in Christ,
Things in our “God on Trial” series are about to get hectic, a little crazy. The enemies of Jesus are ready to pounce. Judas is now on their payroll, and it could happen at any minute. Somewhere out there in the city, they lurk and conspire.
Soon it will come to a head: their plot – and God’s plan. Here is what is coming in the next 24 hours – the mob arrest in Gethsemane, the trials before Annas, Caiaphas, Pilate, Herod, and Pilate again; the crucifixion and death on Calvary, and the burial in the tomb.
But not yet. For a few hours in this second-floor room, it is just Jesus and his disciples. How He has longed for this moment.
“RESPITE”
This time with his disciples is precious to him. He enjoys being around them. It is a good respite before the turmoil.
It is more than that, of course. They are not just hanging out watching the NCAA basketball tournament. They have gathered to celebrate the Passover – to remember the night the Lord rescued the Israelites from Egypt. The Lord led them out of slavery, and they celebrated with a meal.
It was not just a look to the past but also a look ahead. The perfect Lamb of God, the Christ would be sacrificed for the people. His blood would protect them from God’s wrath. He would give them freedom from their slavery to sin and death.
We haven’t hit on the best part yet. On this night for the first time, Jesus grants to his people his real body and blood, the very things he’ll give in death the next day. He gives a down payment on the new covenant, the new pact God will make with sinners – sealed with Jesus’ blood shed on the cross – a promise of forgiveness through faith. Jesus institutes a meal that is still being celebrated every week in Christian Churches around the world. How we long to take our places at the table.
Our enemies, like Judas, are ready to pounce. They lurk outside these walls looking to put God and his people on trial. They ridicule the words God has given us and conspire to prevent those words from influencing our culture and our children. That is why it is good to be in this room, God’s House with God’s people.
We cannot deny that we bring our sin in here. The church doors are not some kind of airlock that keeps spiritual contaminants out. Where there are sinners, there is sin. Sin was in the upper room in the hearts of the disciples. We drag our guilt in here with us for all the times we have been easy prey for our greatest enemy. We carry in our doubts and fears.
Which is why we need to be here. In this room, Jesus gathers us together to assure us that his blood covers our sins and shields us from God’s anger. When you hear God’s Word here, Jesus is speaking to your hearts just as if he were sitting across the table from you. More than that, he invites you to the table. Gives you his body and blood in an unbreakable pact, a promise of forgiveness through faith, sealed with the blood of the Lamb of God.
When do you need a respite? For me it will be next week. The last two months have been crazy busy. But I am not alone. In this sanctuary we have people changing jobs, planning to move out of state, contemplating their future, traveling for work or pleasure. We have others dealing with sickness, chronic pain, or family problems that won’t go away. The reasons we need a respite are endless.
Tonight, Jesus gives the invitation. “Come with me to a quiet room. Come recline at my table. Let’s celebrate a special meal together. I have made the preparations, there is nothing you need to do. The food is ready. The drink is prepared. It is my body and blood. Let me serve you. Let me strengthen you for the struggle of tomorrow.” Here, in this moment, at this table, it is just you and Jesus and the company of heaven.
And one more thing. As Jesus gathers us, he gathers us together in one body. To your right and to your left, here at Jesus’ Table, are your brothers and sisters, who are fighting alongside you, facing the same enemies, needing the same Divine strength, and receiving the same forgiveness with you.
It is about to get hectic, but this Supper is a respite. Here we find peace. Here we kneel in the presence of God. Here we are surrounded by his people. Here it’s like . . .
Heaven.
Amen.