Tom Fisher - On Maunday

 

Tom Fisher
to me

Dear Pastor Jackson,

Maunday Thursday is a precious day for me to ponder.  It is the night when my Savior was betrayed to bear all my sins in His body on the tree of the cross.

"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls  I Peter 2:24,25

Ponder the inestimable love of Christ for you a sinner. Ponder how He yearns to bear all your sins to deliver you from your sins, your death, hell, and Satan.

"But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!  Luke 12:50

Ponder the love Christ has for you a sinner on the very night He was betrayed.

"Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end." John 13:1

Ponder the words Jesus says to you on the night before He was betrayed:

26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. Matthew 26:26-30

Here Jesus gives you His body in, with, and under the bread and His true blood in with and under the wine. Luther said that he was certain Christ gives us His natural physical body under the bread in a way we cannot comprehend.  So believe these clear words of Christ: "This is my body given for you. This is my blood of the new testament shed for you for the remission of sins.". Your faith does not care that these words are impossible. Faith rejects reasoning and holds on to these clear words of Christ. In contrast the Baptist, Calvinists, Methodists, Christian Reformed, Church of Christ, Menonites, Amish, Presbyterians, and other protestants cling to their reasoning and unbelief and reject the body and blood of Christ in Holy Communion.  By doing this they have fallen from grace and consistently reject the forgiveness of their sins in Holy Communion, The Office of the Keys, and Holy Baptism. They also reject the efficacy of the Word. They all trust in their own invented works and worthiness. 

Luther urges us to ponder that little word 'testament' in Holy Communion:

"That little word 'testament' is a short summary of all God's wonder and grace fulfilled in Christ." (Martin Luther, LW, vol. 35, pg. 84)

Luther urges us to examine our hearts as we go to Holy Communion:

"So in this matter, you must above all else take heed to your heart, that you believe the words of Christ, and admit their truth, when He says to you and to all, "This is my blood, a new testament by which I bequeath to you forgiveness of all sins and eternal life." (Martin Luther, LW, Vol. 35, pg. 88)

Holy Communion is Christ's last will and testament to us sinners, bequeathing to us forgiveness of all sins and eternal life. Hebrews 9 confirms that Christ is our testator:

 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Hebrews 9:11-17

In contrast, the Calvinists, Baptist, Presbyterians, Church of Christ, Methodist, Christian Reformed and other protestants love the word ' covenant' and hate the word 'testament'.  They all trust the endeavors of their will power. A covenant requires the works and endeavors of the will. A testament rejects the endeavors of our will and clings to Christ alone.  All of the corrupt modern Bibles change Christ's last will and testament into an EMPTY Calvinist covenant.

As we prepare to receive Holy Communion on Maunday Thursday let us ponder what truly makes us worthy:

Who then, receives the Sacrament worthily? Answer:

Fasting and bodily preparation are indeed a fine outward training; but he is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words, Given and shed for you for the remission 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. (Martin Luther's Small Catechism pamphlet, CPH, pg. 15)

Ponder the inestimable love Chist has for you as He willingly bears all your sin, death, and hell in the Garden of Gethsemane:

39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Luke 22:39-44

Ponder God your Heavenly Father's inestimable love for you when He laid all your sins on Jesus His only begotten Son:

 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:4-12

Christ is your good shepherd:

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

30 I and my Father are one. John 10:27-30

In Christ,

Tom Fisher