Maundy Thursday
The Mystery of the Eternal Redemption
“Everyone living on earth will worship it, everyone whose name is not written in the Book of Life. That book belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the creation of the world.” (Rev. 13:8 God’s Word Translation)
In these Lenten devotions, I’ve shared many memories of the past. In some cases, when I recall those stories, I feel close to them. For example, when I actually hold the copy of the children’s book Animalia in my hand, the pictures on the page and even marks on the book cover and pages, take me more actively into the past.
When we think about communion, baptism, and the redemption which Jesus accomplished on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, we may wonder how these events in the past still have potency today. We also think about the timeline of history. How did Jesus’ death on the cross in the first century A.D. benefit the people who lived before He died?
Then we also think about communion. Jesus said before He died, “This is my body… This is my blood…” And we may wonder how the sacrament was efficacious for the disciples when Jesus had not yet died.
But redemption and the sacraments are timeless. I often remind people that God knew that He would have to redeem the world even before He created it! Such is His love and amazing Grace!
The above verse from the book of Revelation is rarely translated the way it is translated here. The translation is actually from our pew Bible, God’s Word to the Nations. The way it reads seems to indicate that Jesus was crucified “before the creation of the world”!!! How could that be?
You may recall that Jesus said that “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). Jesus reminds us that He is “The Word” (“the Word made flesh,” John 1:14) and that He is also “The Truth” (John 14:6). The Word, like Christ, is active and eternal. His Word will come to pass. This verse from the book of Revelation makes us realize that, because God’s Word is absolutely true, the death of Christ was as good as accomplished before the world was created.
When Christians go to the communion rail and receive the body and blood of Christ in, with, and under the elements of bread and wine, they are receiving redemption. Timeless redemption. In several places, Scripture tells us that baptism means being buried “with Him” and raised up “with Him” – “through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead…” (Colossians 2:12/Romans 6).
Christ is timeless. Redemption is timeless. The sacraments which take us back to Good Friday and Easter are timeless. So certain is the gift of faith, and the Word of God and the sacraments that they are participatory.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, You call Yourself the “Eternal Redeemer.” We thank You for Your Word that is absolutely true. We thank You for Your sacraments which are powerful, dynamic, and cleansing. Bless Your Holy Church that we would absolutely trust Your Word and grace in Your sacraments. In Your Name we pray. Amen.