This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the spring concert of Immanuel Lutheran College in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, presented by Director John Reim. I was looking forward to the concert because it is an opportunity to hear the powerful Word of God presented and proclaimed in song. Music is indeed a gift of God, whatever form it takes, but few things have a way of piercing the heart like the Word of God presented in song:
On the same night He was betrayed our Lord,
The Passover Lamb, came to an upper room.
When He had supped and given thanks He took the bread,
The cup, and gave to the disciples he had gathered, saying,
"Take and eat. This is My body given for you.
Of this cup drink you all.
This is My blood which is shed for the remission of sins."
(On the Same Night He was Betrayed, additional words, John Reim)
Midway through the concert, with the help of soloist Alex Fleischer, we considered the words of Jesus which give the Sacrament of Jesus it’s power to cleanse and to comfort. When we come to the Sacrament of the Altar and hear the pastor speak the words of institution, we should think of them as if the Lord Jesus Himself were turning to us at His table to offer us the bread and wine along with His body and blood. These words of the Savior are to be personal and comforting. We may mentally replace that word "you" with our own names knowing for certain that the Savior Jesus had us in mind when our Great High Priest gave His body and shed his blood for the remission of sins.
The adaptation of the words of another familiar communion hymn (Soul, Adorn Thyself with Gladness, The Lutheran Hymnal, 305:8) served to show that it was the love and mercy of the Son to languish and die in anguish that we might have boundless joy and gladness. Truly, each time we return to His altar and receive these spiritual gifts, we should indeed find our joy increased and praise renewed. |
