"The Fruit Of The Cross Fed!" 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Cross+Connections - Lenten Series         4th   Lenten Service 3/17/21
Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Sermon Theme: The Fruit of The Cross Fed! By Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. “Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink,?” Jesus queries James and John, sons of Zebedee, as they neared Jericho on the way to forever fulfill the Passover at Jerusalem. The Lord took His disciples aside instructing them, Matthew 20:18-19 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, (19) and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again." The cross couldn’t be avoided. For a third time on the journey Jesus plainly foretells what will happen. He will “suffer under Pontius Pilate” be “crucified, die, and be buried, and the third day rise again from the dead.” The bitter cup of God’s just and holy wrath for all sinners would be drank to its bitter dregs by Jesus in Jerusalem. James and John didn’t know what they were asking for when they said, “Yes, we can drink it.”
        “Are you able to drink the cup that Jesus drank?” Like James and John, Sons of Thunder, we boom forth that we can! We are certain that we are good enough, wise enough, strong enough to handle sin ourselves - to drink the cup of God’s just wrath. We deceive ourselves, but like these brothers we want the accolades, the “atta boys” from Jesus and the rest of the Church. We don’t want to serve, we want to be served, to be great and in charge.
        St. Matthew records that it was Zebedee’s wife, James and John’s mother who came falling down at Jesus feet begging, Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom." After all a mom only wants what is best for her sons. If Jesus is going to Jerusalem to establish His kingdom, then she’d better put a good word in for the boys. Get them a good assignment to benefit from Jesus’ kingdom. She didn’t understand the kingdom that Jesus came to establish, nor did her sons. Christ’s kingdom isn’t about us making our demands on where we want to serve, then sulking if we don’t get our way. Christ’s kingdom isn’t about being in power and calling the shots. Christ’s kingdom isn’t about annihilating the sinful - like her sons wanted to do when on the journey towards the cross a Samaritan village wouldn’t let them enter. Remember? Luke 9:54-56 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?" (55) But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. (56) For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." And they went to another village.
      The treasure of Christ’s Church isn’t power, prestige, authority, or torching unbelievers with fire from heaven. It is forgiveness. Forgiveness won for all sinners upon Calvary in the flesh and blood of Jesus. Forgiveness distributed in Christ’s Church by God the Holy Spirit in baptism, absolution, the Gospel preached, and the Lord’s Supper fed. Forgiveness that binds sinners together a holy family - the local congregation. These means of grace, these cross connections, are where God the Holy Spirit daily and richly forgives me and all believing sinners everything and God forever forgets our sins.
        Salome, just wanted the best for her sons. Matthew 20:22,23 But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able.".So He said to them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father."
          James and John would drink the cup that Jesus was about to drink, but only after it was filtered through Jesus suffering and death upon the cross. Tonight rejoice to feast on: The Fruit of The Cross Fed!
I. What is the Sacrament of the Altar?(LSB pg. 326). It is what Jesus says it is! His True body and blood, under the bread and wine. It is instituted by Christ Himself (vs.23). The Church didn’t invent sacraments, they were given by our Lord Jesus. Baptism, absolution, preaching of the Gospel all connect us with the cross of Jesus. They are given, commanded, and instituted by Jesus Himself for His followers.
        On the night Jesus was betrayed He breaks from the liturgy of the Passover meal and institutes the Lord’s Supper. After the supper Jesus would struggle in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying, Matthew 26:39 "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." The cup of God’s just punishment for all sinful descendants of Adam was a bitter hellish drink. It crushes Jesus’ soul with sorrow to the point of death. He is left alone to drink it. Proud Peter who pledged die with Him, couldn’t keep his eyes open to pray with Jesus. Matthew 26:42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done."
      Jesus willingly drank the cup for my sins and yours. He swallowed my eternal punishment in hell as well as yours. His Father would forsake Him, for my rebellion and yours. He would die for the sins of the whole world, for the cup of sin was filled with the wages of our sin.
II.   John was an eyewitness of life flowing from our Lord’s lifeless body. He records, John 19:33-37 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. (34) But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. (35) And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. (36) For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "NOT ONE OF HIS BONES SHALL BE BROKEN." (37) And again another Scripture says, "THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED." The Fruit of the Tree of Life was pierced and His life gushed upon the earth to make all things new.
      The Holy Spirit teaches us, (vs.23-25). Jesus takes the unleavened bread of the Passover meal for it always pointed toward the sacrifice of His flesh for us. The Lord had sustained the children of Israel with bread from heaven for forty years. Now Jesus sustains His Church blessing us with the true Bread of Heaven - His very body to eat and blood to drink. What is the Sacrament of the Altar (LSBpg.326)?
    The fruit of immortality - the Tree of Life. Jesus body is broken, pierced with thorns, whips, nails, and a spear is driven into His heart for our sins. He pours out His heart - His very life blood that He may feed us the Bread of Heaven - giving us in the bread His true Body. He is not only present spiritually - He is really where He promises to be giving each communicant His whole body under the bread. His living body is placed into our dying bodies and sacramentally we receive Him with the mouth of our bodies. He enters the tomb of my sin deadened body, that He might burst forth in new life - filling me with His life forgiving me all my sins, and certifying that I am saved.
      Time and again in the Old Testament the Lord God taught that “life is in the blood.” Jesus pours out His blood from the cross washing away my sins. His blood purifies me from all iniquities. He pours His living blood into the mouth of my body in the wine of the sacrament He assures me that my transgressions are forgiven. I am reconciled to my God and Father at the cross of my Savior.
    We celebrate the Sacrament in remembrance of Jesus. What does this mean? Run to the tree of Life Sunday after Sunday that Jesus may serve us the feast that fortifies us with forgiveness, and fills us with Christ’s life, and the Holy Spirit comforts us with peace certain that we are saved from death, from sin, and from the power of the devil.
III. Who is to be fed the Lord’s Supper? (LSB pg. 326) It is for us Christians to eat and drink. It is a common confession of the Faith - given at the font, confessed at the Altar, preached from the pulpit by which God the Holy Spirit binds us together family at the Lord’s Table. (Vs. 26).
        As often...the Passover was celebrated only once a year. The Lord’s Supper wasn’t to be a yearly occurrence, though some Lutherans misread Luther’s Large Catechism and thought four times a year was enough. What did Jesus do? On that first Easter He reveals Himself to the despairing disciples that had fled to Emmaus as He breaks the bread and blesses it - Luke’s words for the Sacrament. As soon as God the Holy Spirit gathers the Church through the Gospel preached, and baptism given. He connects the Church with the cross. How? Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.   In the Lutheran Confessions our forefathers confessed that they offered the Lord’s Supper every Sunday and festival of the Church year. We rejoice to feast with Jesus and thank God that many Lutheran congregations in the United States are waking up to every Sunday communion.
          Can you drink this cup? (Where is This Written? LSB pg. 326) Yes, judgment is been removed by the Tree of Jesus’ cross. Drink deeply of the sweet cup of God’s mercy in Christ Jesus. Christ has reconciled me to my heavenly Father - joyfully I proclaim every time I receive the Sacrament - He died for me! He rose for me! He is coming again for me!
Today is St. Patrick’s Day. Patrick was born in Britain, baptized as an infant and brought up in the faith, but he didn’t think much of it. At 16 he was captured by Irish pirates and enslaved in Ireland. There God the Holy Spirit cracked his stubborn will with the words of promise that he had learned at church when he was young. Patrick began to pray. After six years he escaped back to Britain, studied to become a priest, and was led back to Ireland to preach the Gospel to those who enslaved him. Patrick would rather have you come to the Lord’s Supper to celebrate his memory than to drink green beverages today. Open your hymnal LSB#604 St. Patrick’s Breastplate
1 I bind unto myself today The strong name of the Trinity
By invocation of the same, The Three in One and One in Three.
2 I bind this day to me forever, By pow'r of faith, Christ's incarnation,
His Baptism in the Jordan River, His cross of death for my salvation,
His bursting from the spiced tomb, His riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom, I bind unto myself today.
3 I bind unto myself today The pow'r of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay, His ear to harken to my need,
The wisdom of my God to teach, His hand to guide, His shield to ward,
The Word of God to give me speech, His heav'nly host to be my guard.
4 Against the demon snares of sin, The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within, The hostile foes that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh, In ev'ry place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility, I bind to me those holy pow'rs.
5 I bind unto myself the name, The strong name of the Trinity
By invocation of the same, The Three in One and One in Three,
Of whom all nature hath creation, Eternal Father, Spirit, Word.
Praise to the Lord of my salvation; Salvation is of Christ the Lord! Amen.