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INJ
'In the Name of Jesus'
St Matthew 1:21-23
Confessional Service
Eve of the Name of Jesus
December 31, 2006
Hope Lutheran Church, Aurora, CO
Dear Saints,
“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” [Colossians 3:17] In the Name of the Lord Jesus, this is how St Paul admonishes us to do all things. And so we gather here tonight, to end the old year and begin the new, in the name of Jesus.
In our text tonight from St Matthew 1:21, we learn why Mary and Joseph are to name their child Jesus, “for,” says the angel, “He will save His people from their sins.” “From heir sins.” There are a lot of things that people need saving from, or at least we think we do, from poverty, from sickness, from high energy prices, from hurricanes, but none of these things -or any other things that threaten us- are as threatening as our sins.
It is our sins and sin and sinfulness that brings us here, to the Lord's church. We come to hear Jesus who saves us from our sins. We come for the forgiveness of our sins. This is, after all, why the Lord has established His church, why the Holy Spirit continues to keep the church. As we confess in the Large Catechism, “Everything, therefore, in the Christian Church is ordered toward this goal: we shall daily receive in the Church nothing but the forgiveness of sin through the Word and sings, to comfort and encourage our consciences as long as we live here.” (Large Catechism II.55)
Our lives, dear Saints, are lived to and from the forgiveness of sins, and so our lives are lived towards and out from this altar. Here, on this table, the Lord has prepared for us salvation in the promise, “given and shed for you, for the remission of all of your sins.” And He will place His body and His blood here, as a sure sign and pledge that His promise is not in vain, but is as sure and certain as His suffering and death for you. What a marvelous gift the Lord gives us in this, His Supper.
It is fitting for us to prepare for this meal. That is why we are doing a different service tonight, the Order of Confessional Service. This liturgy has its origin in the time in the church when the Lord's Supper was celebrated less often. It was a preparatory service, a time to prepare our hearts and minds to receive this great gift. When Communion was given only a few times a year, the church would meet together on Saturday, hear the exhortation, confess their sins and hear the absolution. They would prepare on Saturday night, and then come on Sunday morning to take and eat and drink the Lord's body and blood and feast on the forgiveness of their sins.
The table is all prepared, not it is fitting to prepare ourselves. How do we rightly prepare to receive the Lord's Supper? We ask this question in the catechism: Who, then, receives such Sacrament worthily?
Fasting and bodily preparation are indeed a fine outward training; but he is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words, Give and shed for you for the remission of sins. But he that does not believe these words, or doubts, is unworthy and unprepared; for the words “for you” require all hearts to believe.
Faith in the Lord's word of promise, in the Lord's word of forgiveness, this is what makes one worthy and well prepared. For while our mouths receive the blessed and holy body and blood of our Lord Jesus, our mouths don't know what is has. The mouth thinks that this is just another piece of bread and sip of wine. But faith knows that this is no ordinary bread and wine, but the very body and blood, faith in the heart receives Him with His promise of forgiveness.
And so, dear saints, believe. Know that you are a sinner that deserves God's wrath and punishment, but know more than that, and believe the promise that Jesus has spoken, “Your sins are forgiven,” for that Word is as sure and certain as heaven itself. In that Word of promise, that Word of forgiveness, bound to this bread and wine, may you find you life and salvation. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Pastor Wolfmueller