Please Note That Most Messages Follow
The Revised Common Lectionary

This morning as you can tell we are observing the Lord’s Supper. You may also notice some differences about this morning. For example I am wearing a robe which I don't usually do on Sunday mornings. I’ve always had a problem with the way many churches administer the ordinance of Communion. I have felt as though we simply do our best to fit it in somewhere in the service.

There is this feature on my computer’s e-mail capabilities called "Attachment." It allows you to write a letter and then when you are finished "attach" a file to the e-mail. When the recipient receives the e-mail, they see a paper clip in the upper corner of the letter which indicates that there is something more than just a letter here.

Well I say all of that to say that’s how I have felt about the Lord’s Supper. It seems to me that we often treat it as an "attachment" to our regular worship service. We do it because it is required of us, and we do it because it gives the appearance that we are doing what a New Testament Church filled with present day Disciples of Jesus ought to be doing. But is that what it should be? Is that how we ought to treat the Lord’s Supper? I think not.

This morning’s Gospel lesson has a lot to say about appearances. It points is the need to be genuine in all that we do and all that we say.

In a "Peanuts" cartoon strip, Little Lucy, who is known to be ever-ready with unsolicited advice, is playing right-field in a baseball game. Charlie Brown is pitching. "Let's win one for a change Charlie Brown," Lucy cries out. Charlie Brown then throws his first pitch and the batter hits the ball to right-field. But Lucy makes no attempt to catch it. She just stands there and does nothing. Charlie Brown yells out at her, "If you're so interested in winning, why didn't you try to catch the ball?" To which a defiant Lucy replies, "My role is strictly advisory."

The Scribes and the Pharisees, whom Jesus castigates in today's Gospel Lesson, seem to be in that kind of "Little Lucy" mode. They're ever-ready to act in an advisory capacity. They're ever-ready to preach and teach the law of God about right-living, as they understand it. And yet, Jesus warns His disciples ... "You must do what they tell you and listen to what they say, but do not be guided by what they do, since they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but will they lift a finger to move them? Not they!" (Mt. 23:4).

This morning I want us to experience true communion together as we participate in this sacred ordinance of the Church. I want us to be genuine and sincere as we engage in this action. I want us to allow the Holy Spirit of Christ to envelope us, to stir us, to commune with us, to convict us, to comfort us, and encourage us. I want us to experience Jesus’ presence with us as we partake of the Bread and the Wine.

This morning you were given a Holy Communion leaflet. I ask you to take it out at this time and engage with me in the administration of the Lord’s Supper.

(Click here to read that which our people are reading)

On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?"

He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'"

So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me."

And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, "Surely not I, Lord?"

He answered, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born."

Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" He replied, "You have said so."

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it.

And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; then they sat down there and kept watch over him.

Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."

In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, 'I am God's Son.'"

The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way. From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, "This man is calling for Elijah." At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink.

But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him." Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice "Father into your hands I commend my Spirit." and breathed his last.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.

Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, "Truly this man was God's Son!"

Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away.

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you."

So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him.

Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him may not die but have ever lasting life. Amen.

As you heard the story re-told did you feel the love of Jesus? Did you experience the pain of Jesus? Do you know how much He loves you? Do you know how great was his sacrifice? Click Here To Receive FREE Notification When
New Sermons Are Posted

This Site is a Member of the Kerusso Sermon Web Ring.
[Skip Prev] [Prev] [Next] [Skip Next] [Random] [Next 5] [List Sites] [Join]

People Have Reviewed This Sermon