Innocent Blood Betrayed or Consumed
Debate continues about whether Judas received the Lord’s Supper on Maundy Thursday. That is most likely precisely the way the Holy Spirit intended it to be. Some Gospels like St. Luke’s imply that he did receive it. John seems to indicate that he did not. Either way, Judas’ comment early Good Friday morning to the priests who had given him the prophesied amount of money for Jesus, (30 pieces of silver, (Zech. 11:12) the price of a slave), was fitting: “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood!” (Mt. 27:4) No truer words were spoken by a disciple of the devil.
Jesus’ blood was “innocent.” That innocent blood was betrayed – received sacramentally by mouth – or not. Communion received without repentance — and, of course, consequently without the faith and joy when it is received for the forgiveness of sins — is received in guilt. It is received against that innocent blood, (I Corinthians 11:27). Had Judas’ heart not been so hard, he would have “examined himself” and, in the same way, may have examined the innocent blood that was being offered to him. (II Cor. 11:28)
Similar to the beautiful celebration of reconciliation between the betrayed father and repentant son who had returned home smelling like a pig, yet was embraced by his compassionate dad – this sacramental (mysterious) meal of mercy offers innocent blood, and “the life is in the blood.”
No doubt, when Jesus offered His “body and blood” in, with, and under the elements of bread and wine, the disciples were taken aback by His language. But they had just finished the Passover supper, a participatory meal of remembrance, where partaking Jews believes they, too, came out of Egypt. Jesus would give the command, “Do this in remembrance of Me.”
As we have noted before, our blood has its own memory bank. It remembers insults from the past…. only to purge them should they return. The immune system works in and through the blood.
When we go to the Lord’s Supper, we are remembering Jesus, and we are receiving His body and blood. He is also remembering us. When He looks at our heart and sees a broken and contrite heart – and importantly one that believes in His innocent blood shed for each of us — that innocent blood heals.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, we thank You for the gift of the sacrament of Holy Communion. You are our Passover. You are the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. You command us to “take and eat… take and drink of the new covenant in Your blood.” As we remember You, we remember Your innocence, and Your innocent blood -offered to us in the sacrament. May we always receive it with a broken heart and a joyful believing heart. You did this “for me!” We give You thanks! Amen.