Trust His Word! 1 Cor. 11:23-25 Christian Questions #13-16

Oculi, Wednesday - Midweek Lenten Vespers 3         15-March-2023
Series: “Christian Questions and Their Answers: 13-16"
Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Sermon Theme: “Trust His Word!” by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. Mat 26:35 Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And so said all the disciples.” Peter - the Rock - ready to die with Jesus. He wasn’t alone. All the disciples pledged to die with Jesus rather than deny Him. It was easy to do that evening, gathered safely in the large upper room, feasting on the final Passover meal. With sorrow Jesus told them that one of them would betray Him. They couldn’t comprehend His Word, but asked,”Lord, is it I?’ When John asked Jesus to identify the betrayer He handed Judas Iscariot a piece of unleavened bread dipped in the charoseth sauce. The dark sweet sauce representing mortar - a reminder of their ancestors toil as brick making and laying slaves in Egypt. To receive the charoseth was a sign of honor of love. Even now Jesus sought to call Judas to repentance for what he was about to do. “Lord, you don’t mean me, do you?” “You have said it.” Jesus told him, then told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” Judas leaves the light of the meal and rushes in the night of sin. He didn’t listen. Didn’t trust Jesus’ Word.
    The historically accurate recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the Gospels reveal what took place the night when our Lord was betrayed. Do you listen? Trust Jesus’ Word? They are recorded and spoken for you. John testifies, Joh 20:30-31 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; (31) but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” Are you listening? Faith is God the Holy Spirit’s gift. It comes alone through hearing - hearing the Word of Christ - not once a week but every day - especially when the Church gathers together to hear Jesus - really present - breathing forth His Comforting Holy Spirit to apply to us the fruit of His passion - the forgiveness of sins.
      Will you betray Him? Deny Him? In a month, four of you will stand here, before this altar. You will vow to hear and receive the Lord’s Supper faithfully. You will vow to live God’s Word in faith, word, deed remaining true to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit even to death. You will vow to remain steadfast in this confession and Church, suffering all, even death rather than falling away. Will you? It is easy to say yes sitting here in Jesus’ presence at His table. How about in the darkness? When money tempts to work every Sunday? When friends mock? Family pulls you away? Arrest threatens? "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" Peter pledged, but Jesus Word came true. Before the rooster crowed Peter denied Jesus three times, finally calling down God’s curse upon him if he had ever known this Jesus from Nazareth. Jesus looked at Peter, not to tell him, ‘I told you so,” but to preach to his unfaithful disciple - “”Turn from trusting in your own reason and strength. Stop looking inward! Look only to Me crucified for you! I am Mercy! I pay for your sin! Return to Me!”
    Tonight, repent! Stop looking inside yourself for wisdom, strength, virtue, salvation. Fix your eyes on Jesus the Author and Finisher of your Faith! “Trust His Word!”
    Open your hymnal to page 330. We read together the end note. Gathering at Christ’s table isn’t child’s play. The God of all Creation, The Father’s only begotten Son, He who became our Brother by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary. He’s here. True God - True Man! (L.S.B. pg. 329. #13) Not “do you feel.” Not “do you think.” “Do you believe?” Holy Spirit given Word sustained faith answers: “Yes, I believe it!”
    Why?(L.S.B. pg. 329. #14) Where is certainty found? The devil deceives calling it a revival when he leads people away from hearing Christ’s Word preached and receiving His gifts and work in baptism, absolution, and the Lord’s Supper. We clearly confess, “Therefore we ought and must constantly maintain this point, that God does not wish to deal with us otherwise than through the spoken Word and the Sacraments. 11 It is the devil himself whatsoever is extolled as Spirit without the Word and Sacraments. (SA Pt.III; Art.8; Para 10,11). Having a week long song gathering isn’t revival - it is Satan leading people away from Christ’s Word and works to trust in their own emotional highs. Listen to the Holy Spirit teaching through St. Paul. 1Co 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;” Paul didn’t make it up - He received it from our risen ascended Lord Jesus who fills all things as True God and True Man. The King of all Creation, the King of our Salvation - spoke. Paul as His ambassador - repeated His Word to the congregation at Corinth. On the night He was betrayed - the Last Passover - Jesus took bread...1Co 11:24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.". The Creator spoke His Word. The Bread isn’t just Bread - it is His Body in the Bread. As He broke the bread - His innocent body will be broken for us in His passion - by the whip, a crown of thorns, the nails, and finally by the spear driven into His lifeless side opening His heart to gush forth Life to the world - His Water and Blood! Come to the Supper confessing that Jesus - the Innocent Lamb of God - has been sacrificed for your sins - once and forever!
      Listen to His Word. He doesn’t say, “This represents My body” - The Author and Giver of all human language says, “This IS My Body!” “IS” means “IS”. He gives His living flesh into the mouth of our bodies in the Bread blessed and broken with His Word’s of institution.
    Listen to His Word! 1Co 11:25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." He takes the last cup of wine used in the Passover. The fifth cup - the cup of Redemption, which wasn’t to be drank, until the prophet Elijah had come announcing the Messiah. The first four cups - were blessed and shared around the table - they expressed God’s promise of redemption in Exodus 6: "I will take you out", "I will deliver you", "I will redeem you", "I will acquire you." Now the Passover is completed - the Messiah - the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world - identified by John the Baptist - a new Elijah bold - blesses the cup of redemption - it is His blood that redeems us - purchases and wins us from all sin, from death, and from the power of the devil!
    The Cup of Wine is no longer lifeless - it pulses with the very life blood of Jesus - reuniting God and Man in Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins! Do this - speak His Words - believe His Words - eat and drink. Do it often - every Sunday the early Church celebrated the Lord’s Supper, and on every feast day. (L.S.B. pg. 329. #15) Remember! Memorize His Word. Proclaim it! Pray it! Meditate on it! Listen to Jesus speak breathing forth the Holy Spirit into your ears and heart! Proclaim! “I am a sinner!” “He died for me!” “I am saved!”“His blood washes away my sin!” He remembers me in His mercy! When I die I shall be with Him in Paradise!”
    Trust His Word! “1Co 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.” Don’t deny your Savior! Come to His Table often! Eat and Drink - proclaim His death, His resurrection, His rule, and His return to judge the world and rescue all marked by His blood! (L.S.B. pg. 329. #16). Proclaim the Truth - no one - only Christ - True Man and True God could make satisfaction for my sins! Be honest - face your sin - confess them and lay them on Jesus always! Breathe easy - trust His Word - He gave His Body, shed His Blood to forgive your sins. Rejoice! He is here in bread and wine at His table. He revives you with His Holy Spirit through His Word comforting you with forgiveness and His life that will not be torn from you. Trust His Word - for it isn’t living a good life that saves you from hell - it is Jesus! No one comes to the Father except through His living flesh and blood!
      Never trust in your promises to die for Jesus! Peter fell. Three times he denied his Savior. Jesus Word stood, ‘I have prayed for you!” Near water our risen Jesus called him to His meal - fed and restored him to his office. He called him again, “Follow me!” Dear ones! You will sin! Deny Him! He will seek you out again! Trust in His promise - He has died for your sin. He is risen for your justification. Trust His Word sealed upon you in Holy Baptism - “I am with you always!” Amen.