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Theology - Liturgical: Eucharistic Meditation, Second Sunday After Christmas

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Hebrews 10:11-14: And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

Against Roman Catholics, Protestants have often emphasized the once-for-all character of the sacrifice of Jesus. In the Old Testament, the fire on the altar burned continually, with the daily morning and evening sacrifices, and the lamps on the lampstand in the holy place also burned continually. Priests never sat enthroned like kings because their work was never done.

But now Jesus has come and done it once-for-all time. Jesus is not perpetually on the cross, continually suffering for the sins of the world. He suffered once, and rose, never to die again. He is not an Aaronic priest, who stands to serve at the altar; He is a priest-king after the order of Melchizedek, and after He made purification for sins, and He sat down.

Yet, as Toby pointed out this morning, we cannot forget the other side of the biblical picture. Jesus offered Himself once, but His one offering is our continual offering. Jesus is our altar and our lampstand, and by virtue of His one sacrifice He acts and worships continually before the Father.

That is crucial for understanding what happens in worship. When we gather for Lord’s Day worship, we are not beginning a worship service. We are joining in a perpetual heavenly liturgy, at which Jesus is the officiant.

And it helps us understand what happens at this table. We don’t put Jesus on the cross again. He suffered once, and now is exalted. But here at this table we do present the signs and symbols of that once sacrifice. Jesus’ body and blood are memorials to the Father, just as Jesus Himself is a perpetual memorial before the Father. Our Eucharistic offering here, our offering of praise and thanks, is not an autonomous work, aimed at winning God’s favor. We do it in union with Jesus, and the Father accepts it for His sake.

As we break bread and pour wine, as we eat and drink in the presence of God, as we receive Christ in the Spirit, as we praise and give thanks, we are caught up in Christ’s own self-offering before the Father. As we celebrate at this table, we participate in the continual sacrifice that Jesus offered once-for-all.

posted by Peter J. Leithart on Sunday, January 4, 2009 at 7:53 am

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Theology - Liturgical: Eucharistic Meditation, Second Sunday After Christmas

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