This is a special night in Holy Week. There are probably a couple of ways that we could look at this special day. First of all there is the dim view. It is seen as dim because tomorrow, the darkness of Good Friday is coming. At the end of the service, we have the stripping of the altar. The altar is stripped clean. The fine white linen paraments, gone. The gold chalice, gone. The altar candles, gone. It’s a very grim and dim sight at the end of tonight.
Afterall, the occasion of this night is often called “the Last Supper.” We can easily think of it as a particularly sad time on the night when our Lord is about to be betrayed and then sent through a fly by night trial and crucified the next day. Good Friday is coming. Maybe people look at it like a movie where an innocent prisoner is about to be executed the next day and he gets his last meal. Even though it may be his favorite, it’s a sour meal. It’s just a dim and dark meal. It’s a sad meal or one last time to enjoy life. Ultimately it’s grim and dark. We might think that this day is just a day to prepare us for Good Friday. Like setting the lights on the dimmer to bring down the happiness.
That’s the way that the world looks at this day. That is the way those with no hope look at this day. That is the way that faithlessness looks on tonight. But you, you who have been Baptized in the waters of rebirth and renewal, died and risen with Christ. You, you look at this day in a different light.
Maundy Thursday IS a day that prepares us for Good Friday. But it’s not a day in the church year that simply dims the lights or gives us a somber feeling for the suffering of Good Friday. It is a day of promise. It prepares us for Good Friday because promise is given in the midst of the death that is coming. We are given life in the midst of darkness.
It is special because it is on this night when promises are given in the presence of the darkness of Good Friday that is coming. This night is important because we are receiving promises of absolution. That is the first thing that you received this evening. You have no reason at all to doubt whether or not God’s forgiveness is for you. I spoke to each of you in person, by your name, that you are forgiven. It’s not my forgiveness, it is Jesus’ forgiveness, and by virtue of my office he commands me to speak it to you. And you have heard once again the words that we all need to hear: “I forgive you!” When you go home tonight, remember those words. When those words were spoken tonight and every Sunday, it happens right there for you. No matter what sin you confessed. No matter what was weighing on your heart and mind from the day, from the week, from the month, from the year, from the decade, from your life. It’s forgiven. It’s a done deal. As far as God is concerned, it’s as far away from you as east is from west. That is the new reality for you, receive it.
It’s all the more here for you in this meal that we receive this night on the night when our Lord was betrayed. In the midst of knowing that one of his very own disciples would betray him, he wanted to give this gift in the midst of betrayal. He said, this is my body and this is my blood. Given and shed for you.
This is the blood of Christ that was shed for the sake of the whole world. In this meal, it is given to you. Given and shed for you! Jesus blood was poured out for us. Simply receive it. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.
And later tonight, reflect on those words. Jesus speaks these words, because you are gonna need’em. This is God’s Word for you to hold on to when the darkness of this life comes. These are words for you when the Good Friday’s of this world assault you. Reflect on those words that you just heard whenever doubt assails you and whenever the devil with his accusations rears his ugly head. When the world calls you judged, hear from your Lord, “I forgive you.” Remember Jesus’ words when you ate His meal, “Given and shed for you” When the brokenness of life calls you condemned and death is at your door in the final hours of life telling you this is what you’re getting and you’re not getting out, hear the words of your Lord who has the power over death say to you, “I forgive you.” Remember Jesus’ words when you ate His meal, “Given and shed for you”
Maundy Thursday happens in the midst of something that is coming. It is a gift in the midst of suffering. It is life in the midst of death. Remember these Words, now and forever, because in this life, you’re gonna to need ‘em. You need them now. These are the Lord’s Words for you. Where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation. Hold on to these words, they are the words of eternal life.
