The Christmas Story

Holy Communion

Jesus’ Abiding GIFT We So Much NEED

WHY did Jesus give us this gift?

Jesus instituted Communion at the Last Supper, one of the last things He did as a “free man” before His arrest.  

Jesus would soon be gone – physically anyway.  And so He gave us a parting GIFT, as perhaps a very good friend might do who is leaving.  It is the GIFT of Himself, of His presence.  More than a picture – Himself!

WHAT blessings are given by Jesus?

Himself – and all that He gives!   The words of institution stress this, as have Christians for 2000 years!  “THIS ISmy blood…. my body….. GIVEN for YOU!”  It’s Jesus!   For YOU!  Jesus….  here….  given for you, giving to you.

Holy Communion is God’s way of hugging us.   In a very tangible, physical, concrete way.  Who doesn’t need a hug?  Especially from GOD!  “THIS is my blood shed for you on the Cross because THIS is how much I love YOU!   This is my body broken for you at Calvary because THIS is how much I love YOU!   YOU!  Here.  Now.

Jesus specifically said it’s all “for the forgiveness of sins.”  Whose sins?  Mine!  Yours!  It’s why He came, it’s why He died….   Luther wrote that where Jesus is – there IS forgiveness, mercy, life, hope, strength!    Big stuff!  Enormous blessings, huh?  No wonder Christians have cherished this Gift for 2000 years…  

Can we receive this gift too often?

Can you be loved too much?   Can you be hugged too often?   Can you be forgiving too frequently?  

How often does Jesus want to so bless us?

Jesus said, “DO this…..”   He doesn’t exactly state how frequently, although both the Greek words and the context suggest often.  Jesus gave this as His abiding gift…. Jesus so wants to love and bless us…. often!  It seems certain He wants this gift received frequently.

Consider:  You give your spouse an EXTREMELY expensive gift that is very, very precious to you.  You give it for ONE reason – to bless him/her.   Do you intend for your spouse to use and enjoy it, to be blessed by it?  Or put it in the safe deposit box to occasionally take out and admire?  

Did Early Christians celebrate this often?

Acts 2:42 shows that within weeks of Jesus giving this Gift, Christians were receiving it “constantly.”  

We know that at least from 70 AD, it was a part of every Sunday worship service - every week.   In fact, a worship service was not considered “whole” or “complete” without it.  

For the great majority of Christians, this is still the case.  Some 80% of Christians have this Gift as a part of every Sunday worship service (at least). It was 100% until very recently.

What did Luther recommend?  

Luther not only stresses every-Sunday Communion, but rebukes pastors “too lazy to offer it” and wonders about those who think themselves not in frequent need of it.  

Our Lutheran Confessions boldly state that Lutheran congregations celebrate and offer this Gift “every Sunday.” [Defense of the Augsburg Confession, Article XXIV, 1]

What does our LCMS say on this?

“Whereas, the opportunity to receive the Lord's Supper each Lord's Day was a reality cherished by Luther and set forth clearly with high esteem by our Lutheran Confessions; and Whereas, our synod's 1983 CTCR document on the Lord's Supper and Luther's Catechism both remind us that the Scriptures place the Lord's Supper at the center of Sunday worship, therefore be itRESOLVED, That The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in convention encourage its pastors and congregations to study the scriptural, confessional, and historical witness to every Sunday communion with a view toward recovering the opportunity for receiving the Lord's Supper each and every Lord's Day.”  [1995 Convention of the LCMS]  

What happened?  Why wasn’t it always celebratedevery Sunday?

That’s a tough one!  I’m not sure anyone really knows.  It began to be occasionally withheld among Calvinists and later among SOME Lutherans a century or so after Luther.  In the US, there has been a strong undercurrent of anti-Catholicism likely at work here.  Many American Protestants began to shy away from things “Catholic” (Pretty selectively!  They still had Sunday worship, included Scripture readings, celebrated Christmas on Dec. 25 – all things Catholic!).   Fortunately this anti-Catholicism has faded…  Among American Lutherans, Communion celebration hit its “low point” about a century ago and has been growing in frequency ever since. Today, about one-third of LCMS congregations have every-Sunday Communion, but that percentage is growing fast.  

Does every-Sunday offering mandate every-Sunday receiving?

No.  Scripture makes no requirement on this; nor did Luther, nor does the Lutheran Confessions or the LCMS.  It’s not a legalistic issue of how often you must receive,it’s a gospel issue of how regularly the church should offer.

It’s the same with all we do.  We have weekly worshipservices but we don’t MANDATE that you participate every week - that’s up to you.  

Think of it this way:  A parent may LOVE their teenager, love them SO very much.  And may want to hug that boy or girl.  Sometimes, that teen refuses that hug.  Happens….  The parent doesn’t force it, just keeps lovingand keeps offering. As a parent who survived my children’s teen years, I know…. they grow and the day comes when they’ll welcome those hugs!   Be patient…..love….. embrace….. accept…  It’s not about legalism, it’s about love.