So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” (John 12:13 ESV) Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week. We begin with joyous shouts of exaltation and hope as Jesus enters Jerusalem but then quickly see the cost of His coming - the bitter pain and suffering of the cross. Today at International Lutheran Church, we ponder the Sacrament of the Altar and its meaning, as we see how Jesus still comes to us in humble bread and wine to give Himself for us that we would have life in Him.
“Hosanna” or “Save now!” is the word we use to welcome the King, just as the crowds and children shouted on that amazing festive day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a humble colt, the foal of a donkey. These are the very words of Psalm 118:25-26 as the people of faith have always prayed “Save us now” and “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!” But how does God save me? In the Small Catechism we turn today to the Sacrament of the Altar, also known as the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion. Here, Luther explains its meaning by simply focusing on the clear words of Jesus Himself that carry for us the greatest promise we could ever hear – “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” We read:
What is the Sacrament of the Altar?
It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink.
Where is this written?
The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul write: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.” In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
What is the benefit of this eating and drinking?
These words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.
How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?
Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: “forgiveness of sins.”
Who receives this sacrament worthily?
Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training. But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared, for the words “for you” require all hearts to believe.
Like Baptism, the Sacrament of the Altar brings the events and blessings of Jesus’ cross and passion directly to you and me, here and now. Here our King comes to us in order to save us. He gives His own Body and Blood under the simple and ordinary means of bread and wine that our sin would be forgiven. Here and now He fills us with His life and salvation! In fact, we sing “Hosanna” – the prayer of faith – in the communion liturgy right before we hear again the words of Jesus spoken to His disciples on the night when He was betrayed.
As Luther reflected on the question of who is well prepared to receive such a high and holy gift, the simple and basic truth is only found in Jesus’ words “for you.” Only by faith can we see in our hand and taste on our lips His own love for us, just as those words “for you” call for us to believe His promise to save us. Yes, this week we will ponder again our Savior’s cross and passion. We will have opportunity to reflect on the immediacy (the here and now) of His act to save you and me as we hear His words again that night when he was betrayed. Yes, our King has come to save! Hosanna – Save now!
Pastor Carl