On this night, Jesus instituted Holy Communion for us, giving His own Body and Blood in, with, and under the forms of bread and wine. “The blood of the covenant” at Mount Sinai (Ex. 24:8) foreshows the Lord’s Supper and the blood of Jesus Christ, “the God of Israel” (Ex. 24:10). He does not lay His hand on us to punish us, but from His hand we eat and drink in peace. As our High Priest, He “entered once for all into the holy places … by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption” (Heb. 9:12). He shed His own blood in order to “purify our conscience” and bring us before His God and Father “without blemish” (Heb. 9:14). The holy apostles received this New Testament in His blood from the Lord Jesus “on the night when he was betrayed,” and they delivered the same to His Church, which we also now receive in the name and remembrance of Christ (Matt. 26:26–28). He has “loved his own who were in the world,” and He loves us “to the end” (John 13:1); therefore, let us also “love one another” (John 13:34).
This service is powerful. The altar is ritually stripped in preparation for Good Friday.
Event Venue
St. Andrew Lutheran Church - Rockton, IL, 511 W Rockton Rd, Rockton, IL 61072, United States
