Sermon: Luke 7:36-50
When we think of Jesus, we expect a Teacher, and we get a Saviour. We expect a loan-shark and He forgives us freely. We expect that He’ll burden us, instead He says “This is my body which is given for you... This is my blood which is shed for you.” We expect that He’ll take from us, instead He gives Himself to us – even to the point of death. We expect a throne of judgement, instead He takes the judgement on the cross and, to us, He opens up a banqueting hall. He says, "Welcome! Come in, come one, come all, come sinners and feast with me.
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Way to go, Glen!
God actually does something in Baptism. Puts the infant (or whomever) to death...and then raises him/her to new life (Romans 6). We recieve "the forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).
And the bread and the wine 'IS' (Jesus' words) "is my body...and is my blood".
There too, we actually receive Christ. And He will work in us His own gracious will.
In these 'external Word (s)...we can have confidence and assurance. Something that is woefully lacking today in churches.