Eat His Flesh and Drink His Blood (John 6:52-59; LD 28)
The sacrament of communion communicates the perfect, complete and once-for-all sacrifice of Christ. The bread and wine are symbols of his body and blood rather than a literal changing of the elements into Christ. While the elements remain bread and wine, Christ is truly present by His Spirit, nourishing believers in the same grace as the gospel and the same grace that Israel received in the wilderness. Communion is not merely symbolic or sentimental, but it is a means by which God mysteriously feeds and strengthens His people in this life. The Lord’s Supper is a visible sign of grace that points us to the risen Christ, who gives true and everlasting life. We see the sacrament as a real, spiritual participation in Christ by faith as we are united to him and nourished by him.
Using Ungodly Mammon to Make Eternal Friends? (Luke 16:1-13)
Jesus’ parable of the dishonest manager displays a manager’s shrewdness by scheming against his rich master. Unlike the prodigal son, this manager does not repent but shrewdly uses his worldly wisdom to ensure his survival in this world. Jesus commends the manager’s shrewdness in this age, but calls attention to how the sons of this world know how to survive. Christ exhorts the “sons of light” to exhibit a wisdom of using the things of this world for the glory of the Lord’s kingdom. The parable calls believers to faithful stewardship, wise use of resources, and loyalty to God rather than worldly prestige. Our call to live out the gospel is a challenge. We have to discern what is pleasing to the Lord in the Holy Spirit. It is a call to deliberately live before the face of God, empowered and united to our Savior, and living in light of him being our redeemer and master.