Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday evening, March 20, 2008—the first day of Spring!
Those of you who know me well, know that I have a strong affinity for the Eucharist—the Lord’s Supper, if you prefer, even Holy Communion—so much so, that it is celebrated every Sunday at the church were I am pastor. Over the course of the years that this has been true, I have had several conversations with other pastors about the fact that we celebrate it every Sunday morning and, inevitably, I get this response: “I just don’t know how you have the time to fit it into every Sunday’s service!” Obviously, what they are really saying is this: other things are more important.
To be honest, I fine it a bit strange that they always have time to fit their sermon into each Sunday’s service, not to mention singing, announcements, children’s sermons, and who knows what else. Why most even have time to fit 45 or more minutes of Sunday School into each Sunday’s service. The truth is many protestant churches celebrate Holy Communion so infrequently, that the congregants could not possible view it as being very important at all. This is sad, especially in light of the place of importance that Jesus gave to it on that Thursday night, just prior to His crucifixion on Friday.
Listen carefully to His own words: “And while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ And when He had taken a cup and given 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 forgiveness of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom’” (Matthew 26:26-29; emphasis, mine). Surely, it goes without saying, that when Jesus instituted this “supper,” telling the disciples to “do this in remembrance of Him,” He meant for it to have a place of high priority (actually, highest priority!) every time the church met together, from that point forward.
It is difficult, if not impossible, for me to comprehend how the church can know that Jesus referred to the wine of the Eucharist, as being His blood, and the bread of the Eucharist, as being His body, and at the same time treat the sacrament, as if it is of little or no importance in the life of the church. I just do not get it!
Tonight, as I write this, I cannot help but wonder what would happen within the Body of Christ, should its members begin to give the Lord’s Supper the place of prominence it deserves, the place of preeminence Jesus gave it. I will tell you this: Jesus loves this table and He holds it in very high esteem.
I suppose I should also remind you of this: it was in this “last supper” that Jesus washed His disciples feet, thus Maundy Thursday; it was in this “last supper” that the King of all Kings, the Son of God, the creator of the universe, sat as the most humble man ever to live, demonstrating to each of us what it means to be His follower.
Maybe some of you should sit down with your pastor and let him (her) know that you would like to see him begin to give the Lord’s Supper the place of preeminence that Jesus gave it. Just for the record: after years of celebrating it every week (often several times per week), it has NOT become a mere ritual. The more frequently I celebrate the supper, the more precious He becomes.
Remember: it is Thursday and Sunday IS coming!