There is a painting of the Crucifixion by Rembrandt which is very striking. As you gaze at the picture, your attention is drawn first of all to the Cross and to Him who hangs there. Then your eye, gaze upon the crowd that is gathered around the Cross and you note the attitudes and action of these people. As your eyes drift to the edge of the picture you see another figure standing in the shadow. This is Rembrandt himself. Rembrandt helping to crucify Jesus.
Rembrandt knew that he was just as responsible for the death of Jesus as were the people who did the deed over 2000 years ago. Jesus died for our indifference as well as that of Pilate, he died for our scheming as well as the scheming of Caiaphas. Jesus died for our callousness as well as the callousness of the soldier, he died for our ruthlessness as well as the ruthlessness of the crowd, he died for our cowardliness as well as the cowardliness of the disciples.
It isn't just what they did, but, we can say "It was I that shed the sacred blood. I nailed Him to the tree, I crucified the Christ of God, I joined the mockery."
As the invitation is given to each of us, "This is my body, given for you." "This is my blood shed for you." We are taken back to that first supper, we are taken back to the foot of that cross, we are taken back to the one who was willing to sacrifice himself for the sins of this generation.
Not only do these words take us back, but they also bring the crucified Christ to us today. These words bring the sacrifice he made for us into our world. They bring us a saviour who died for our sins, who died for me. These words, "This is my body, given for you." "This is my blood shed for you." bring the presence of Jesus into our very lives, they bring the Jesus of the cross, and the Jesus of the resurrection in our world, into our bodies, into our souls.
This meal is a way for us to experience that great love Jesus has for us in a very physical way. Jesus is coming to us in the present moment and telling us, showing us, giving us his divine love. This meal makes the sacrifice of the cross real, it makes the sacrifice a personal event, it makes the love of Jesus a personal experience for all of us. This meal bring the events of over 2000 years ago into our
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