The Lord Jesus Christ loves us. Jesus loves us, this we know, for the Bible tells us so. Tonight Jesus demonstrates his love to us by giving us Holy Communion. The devil assaults the Sacrament of Holy Communion every chance he gets. False teachers have led Christians astray from the clear Word of God about the Lord's Supper. And so I want to be very clear this evening. Holy Communion is not what you are doing for God. It is not a sacrifice you make to please Jesus or to pay for your sins. Holy Communion is about what God does for you. Tonight may God strengthen you through his Word and this Sacrament.

What is a sacrament?

A sacrament is a sacred act. Sacred means that it is set apart to be holy. It has three components to it. First of all, a sacrament must have been instituted by Christ himself. The sermon lesson for this evening shows us very clearly that Jesus instituted the sacrament with his disciples. He did this the night before his death in the Upper Room.

Secondly, a sacrament is a sacred act with certain visible elements that are connected to God's Word. Verses 26 to 28 of our lesson reveal this for us. "Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." The Savior used bread and wine and spoke those words to his followers present that evening.

Thirdly, a sacrament is a sacred act in which God gives forgiveness of sins, new life, and salvation. When Jesus instituted this Holy Supper for Christians, he spoke the words, "which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Holy Communion is a sacrament. It was instituted by Christ. It has visible elements, bread and wine, connected with God's Word. And it gives us forgiveness of sins.

Jesus gave this remarkable gift of grace to Christian church on Maundy Thursday, the night before Jesus' death, during the Passover meal. The word "Maundy" comes from the Latin word, "mandatum," which means "command." On Maundy Thursday, Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." Jesus is the model for our love to one another. His example for us is pure. The Good Shepherd shows his love by giving the Lord's Supper for the benefit of his sheep.

Christ used bread and wine. "Jesus took bread." "Then he took the cup." These were the visible elements present as Jesus instituted this Holy Supper. Those elements were connected with the Word that Jesus spoke to the disciples, the words of our Scripture lesson.

"This is my body . . . This is my blood." Not only is the bread and wine present in Holy Communion, so also is Jesus' body and blood. The Apostle reiterated this point in 1 Corinthians 10:16 with these words: "Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?" And again in 1 Corinthians 11:27, "Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord."

This is what we call the Real Presence. Jesus' body and blood are really present with bread and the wine in Holy Communion. The devil has attacked this teaching in the Christian Church. Some falsely teach that the bread and the wine are no longer present. Others teach that Jesus' body and blood are only represented by the bread and the wine. But we stand on the clear words of Scripture. "This is my body . . . This is my blood." And so the bread and wine is really present with the body and blood of Jesus Christ in Communion.

Why did Jesus give the Lord's Supper?

1 Corinthians 11:25 says, "In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.'" Jesus gave us Holy Communion so that we might remember the sacrifice of his body and blood that he gave. When we receive his body and blood, we are to remember his death for us.

Jesus gave the Lord's Supper to his people also for the forgiveness of sins. He said very clearly, recorded in Matthew's gospel, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." We poor miserable sinners need forgiveness. Our sins are laid out before us every day. The devil taunts us with them. He tells us we are not good enough to go to heaven. He tells us that God could never forgive us. And if the devil can't get us that way, he tells us how great we are. He tells us that we don't need Jesus, because we are so good. Make no mistake. We need Jesus. Our sins demand a Savior.

Jesus is that Savior. He gave all he had for us to save us. He left the heights of heaven to be like us, like us in every way, but one. He was perfect and sinless. He also gave his life for us. He shed his blood and gave up his body on the cross. He took all sins upon himself. He died. And he also rose. He rose triumphantly and left the tomb empty. Jesus is the Savior that forgives our sins.

He gives that forgiveness to us through the Sacrament of Holy Communion. When we come to the Lord's Table, we get forgiveness in the body and blood of Jesus Christ offered in the Lord's Supper. Do not make the error in thinking that you are doing something for Jesus in Holy Communion. Jesus is doing something for you, the greatest thing - forgiving you for all your sins, making you pure and holy, and giving you heaven.

For whom is the Lord's Supper?

The Lord's Supper is for those who are Jesus' disciples. That is what Matthew 26:26 tells us. "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, 'Take and eat; this is my body.'" It is for Christians.

The Lord's Supper is for Christians who are also able to remember the death of Christ for the salvation of the world. 1 Corinthians 11:24, "and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.'" You must be able to remember Jesus' death to receive the Lord's Supper.

The Lord's Supper is also for Christians who are able to examine themselves and their sins. 1 Corinthians 11:28 tells us, "A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup." We are to look at our lives to see our sin. For if we do not examine ourselves, we will not see our sins. And if we do not see our sins we will not see the need we have for forgiveness.

Here are some questions you can ask to examine yourselves before receiving Holy Communion: Am I sorry for my sins? Do I trust in Jesus as my Savior? Do I believe that his body and blood are truly present to assure me of forgiveness? Do I intend, with God's help, to live a more God-pleasing life? You can also find questions for self-examination in the front of your hymnal on page 156.

The process of this self-examination before Holy Communion then begs the question:

Who should not receive the Lord's Supper?

Matthew 5:23-24 tells us that those who are unrepentant of their sins should not receive it. 1 Corinthians 11:23 tells us that those who have not been instructed in God's Word should not receive the Lord's Supper. 1 Corinthians 11:28 also reveals to us that anyone who is unable to examine themselves. And then 1 Corinthians 10:17 tells us that those who are not united in faith and doctrine with us should not receive the Lord's Supper.

Is it mean and unloving to deny someone Holy Communion? Not at all, if we are following these clear commands of God. In fact, it is extremely loving, since we do not want anyone to eat and drink judgment on themselves. Sometimes I wonder why there can be such an outrage over the Biblical doctrine and practice of close communion, when there seems to be very little outrage over the fact that many churches withhold the sacrament of Holy Baptism from infants even though there is no Biblical proof for doing this.

What is Close Communion?

There are two fellowships in Holy Communion. First of all there is the vertical relationship we have with Jesus as we receive his body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins. Secondly there is a horizontal fellowship with those that you are kneeling next to receiving this sacrament, with one another. Many take the first fellowship very seriously. Sadly many do not take the second fellowship seriously at all. St. Stephen takes both fellowships very seriously. We practice close communion. We receive the sacrament of Holy Communion with those who are in close fellowship with us based on the clear words of Scripture.

WE NEED THE LORD'S SUPPER BECAUSE it gives us forgiveness of sins. Come to the Lord's Table and have your burden of guilt lifted from you. WE NEED THE LORD'S SUPPER BECAUSE it gives us new life. Come to the Lord's Supper and be invigorated with this means of grace. WE NEED THE LORD'S SUPPER BECAUSE it gives us salvation. The benefits of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection are waiting for you at Holy Communion. Amen.