Last Sunday evening 59 people were murdered in Las Vegas. A gunman opened fire on a crowd of innocent concert goers who were each valuable and precious human beings. At times like this we ask why. Why God? Why would you allow something like this to happen? God doesn’t tell us why, but he does remind us that he cares.
At times like this, God reminds us that he too is a Father who knows what it’s like to have his innocent Son murdered. When Jesus was brought to trial, the ruler Pilate knew he was innocent, but he let the crowd crucify him anyways.
John 19:4, 6 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” […]
As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”
But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.” (NIV®)
On Sunday night, one guilty man terrorized a crowd of innocent people. Two thousand years ago, a crowd of guilty people terrorized one innocent man. The Bible tells us that before God, none of us are innocent. We’re all marred by sin and deserve God’s judgment. The only innocent one to ever walk this earth was Jesus Christ.
That innocent man offered up himself on the cross to save a crowd of guilty people. He died so that any guilty person who acknowledges their guilt and puts their faith in him, receives his innocence as a gift. Because of what Christ did, we can gather here today not as a crowd of guilty people, but as a crowd of innocent people. We’re gathering around the memory of that first innocent man, Jesus.
If you identify as someone who has been made innocent through the death of Jesus, then I invite you to take. But if you are someone who is still trying to earn your innocence before God by being a good person, then please hold off. This supper is for those who find their innocence in Christ. No matter how guilty you feel, you can receive your innocence today as a gift by repenting of your sin and committing your life to Christ. For those who have received this gift, as I recite the words of the Lord’s Supper, and you receive the bread and juice, remember the innocent one who died for you.
1 Corinthians 11:23-24 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (ESV)
1 Corinthians 11:25-26 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (ESV)
Pastor Jonathan wrote this reflection on the Lord’s Supper in light of the Las Vegas tragedy.
Photo By David_Vasquez
Own work, Public Domain
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