The Table of the Lord — Hans R. Waldvogel

Pilate’s Judgment and the Inescapable Decision About Christ

He cried out some more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing but that rather a tumult was made, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person, see ye to it.

Then answered all the people and said, His blood be on us and our children. You see, Pilate, trying to get out of it all. And I tell you, there isn't a human being in all the world that can get rid of Jesus Christ.

You cannot get by the crucified Son of God. And tonight, whether you shall live forever with him, enjoying the salvation which God promised, before the world hath made manifest by the appearing of his seed to life, through whom you have decided already to deliver him over, to crucify him again.

Pilate called for water. After he had seen that Son of God crucified, after he delivered him over into the hands of sinful men, to torment him, to chastise him, to crucify him, he found no peace. And I tell you, there will be no peace to any human being who washes his hands and says, What shall I do with Jesus, who is called Christ?

You've got to do something with him. Every human being has to do something with him. And tonight he invites us to the table of the Lord. And he says, Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you.

Communion and the Sacred Meaning of Christ’s Body and Blood

Drink ye all of it. This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is given for you for the remission of your sins. This too, in remembrance of me. But remember, unworthily we eat and drink damnation to ourselves, not discerning the Lord's body.

It is a tremendously sacred thing to stand before the Son of Man. And it's a trice sacred thing to come to the table of the Lord and to partake of the emblems. It's a sacred matter to be invited to this table, which he has spread in the presence of all my enemies, who are my enemies, and the table.

The world has made a bid for me. The world is making a bid for you. It's making a bid for our boys and girls and our young people. Just like in the days of Moses, when Moses was born, there were the crocodiles in Nile waiting to swallow him up, like they had swallowed so many.

The devil and beloved, the God of this world, in the children of disobedience, his daughter shall be defiled with the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, and shall share.

What are they going to do tonight or tomorrow? They'll plunge from one sin into the other, and they'll defile their garments, which once were washed in the precious blood. God didn't mean it like that.

It's okay. Why, you're a good church member. Why, join any church in town, and they'll give you a button, and they'll give you a job. No matter how you live at home, have you stopped beating your wife?

They won't even ask you that. You can still be a member, and you can still be a preacher, perhaps. But, beloved, you can't get by the blood of Jesus Christ. He called for water. He washed his hands in water.

He said, See to it, and he pronounced this man innocent. Only innocent. No, he bore my guilt and my sorrow, and made them his very own. It's the report of Almighty God, which resounds in Who hears the gospel.

Whom you have sinned, and who has concluded all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon you. So the begotten were hardened, and their ears were dull of hearing, so that they couldn't pay heed to the voice of the Son of Man.

The Voice of Calvary and the Exclusivity of Christ

He opened five bleeding wounds, and from the cross of Calvary he cries, The voice of Calvary. The voice of the Today men are making a turn toward God, but they say we don't want all of God. We just want as much as is comfortable, as much as is convenient.

Oh, how silly. Beloved, they even go further than that. But Jesus Christ has said, No man cometh unto the Father but by me. I am the way, and He says, Oh, your sin. Oh, beloved, tonight yourself in the blood of all the angelic beings of heaven.

That's what the blood of Jesus Christ does. Glory to God. It isn't a whitewash. It doesn't cover your sin and leave you in your sin. But it certainly must come for cleansing. If we say that we have not sinned, we fool ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

And if you want to know what sin is, Why hast thou forsaken me? Beloved, you alone can give an answer to that prayer. It was because of my sin that he had to be put to shame. Beloved, today people sing, and you'll see the picture, the film, The King of Kings and the Weep.

Crocodile tears, beloved, that only increase their sin and their wickedness. Out of darkness into light. That's the way out of the power and slavery of Satan into the wonderful love slavery of Almighty God.

Repentance, Conviction, and Deliverance from Sin

That's the way. When that heart is convicted. When you cannot sin anymore. You cannot love sin anymore. But you cry, woe is me. For I am undone. I'm a man of unclean lips. Damnation. Who will deliver me from my sin?

I delight in the law of God after the inner man. But I'm bound. I'm a slave. Oh, when the Holy Ghost shows you your sin. And shows you what sin is. And oh, we ought to pray for conviction. Beloved, there's too much religion without salvation.

Religion only damns people. But God, the Bible, look around. I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. For it is the... And it took every drop of the blood of the Lamb of God. Oh, Lamb of God, thou wonderful sin bearer.

Hard after thee my soul to follow on. I need to eat that flesh and drink that blood of the Son of Man. Or I will have no life in me. I have a picture at home. A classic. That shows a beautiful cathedral.

And people on Easter Sunday are coming out of church. And the women show their finery. Their beautiful hats. And the men, their pressed trousers. And come like dudes. And there's a great crowd of men and women and boys and girls.

Like you see on Fifth Avenue. Coming out of these big churches. They feel so holy. They feel so righteous. Because they spent one hour out of the... Nobody pays any attention to him. No one even sees him.

Oh, beloved, what damnation. Eat and drink damnation to yourself. But oh, when God Almighty shows you. It was my sin, as we sang a while ago, that nailed him there. It was my... Jesus, my Savior, from glory came down.

Confession, Forgiveness, and the Cleansing Blood of Christ

He was mighty to save. He was... When you confess your sin. He is faithful and just to forgive you your sin. And to cleanse you from all... That's what communion means. That's what the blood of Jesus Christ means.

That's what the gospel of Jesus... Possibly clean myself or purge myself or purify myself. All the tears of all the human race. Gathered together in one great salt sea. Would not wash away a single thing.

But the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son. And tonight he is here. As truly as he stood there in Pilate's judgment hall. I was there two years ago. I saw the pillar to which Jesus Christ was tied. When Pilate delivered him over to the...

What a cruel... After he pronounced his name. I sent this man over to the tormentors. But he turned him over to the vilest rabble of his soldiers. Who spat upon him. Who made sport with him. And he knew they'd do that.

And he commanded him to be... Let's be a little bit slow. What a cruel monster am I. If I play with sin. If we sin willfully. After that we have received the knowledge of the truth. That remaineth no more sacrifice for sin.

It's over with. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment. And fiery indignation. Which shall devour the adversary. For if we sin willfully. We crucify the Son of God afresh. We do worse than Pilate.

He crucified him once. When I don't allow him to fill me with the Holy Ghost. So that sin shall not... But today beloved. Sin shall not... But oh how many trifle with sin. They play with sin. They think it's all right.

They crucify the Son of God afresh. They wash their hands. Oh he died. Yes he died. It's okay. I'll get to heaven. All I have to do is confess my sins. Beloved that's the surest way to hell. Gospel of grace.

Judas, False Religion, and Hidden Disobedience

Eat. With desire have I desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. But one of you is a devil. They didn't know which one it was. They never guessed. That the one that could talk the most spiritual.

That had studied elocution. And knew all about exegesis and theology. That he was a devil. Didn't show on the outside. He transported himself into an angel of light. An apostle of Christ. He had cast out devils.

He had done miracles just like all the others. And yet he was a son of... Bible says that. There wasn't much money in it. Pennies, nickels. Alexander the coppersmith. Did me much evil. But he was dishonest.

He started pilfering. Nobody can see that. Oh beloved. The man that swears to his own hurt and changes not. Shall ascend into the hill of the Lord. The man that has clean hands and a pure heart. And who has not sworn deceitfully.

He shall receive the inheritance of the Lord. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou decidest truth in the inward part. And in the hidden part. Shall thou make me to know wisdom. Beloved. But tonight you can't get by Jesus Christ.

You can come and wash your garments white. And they shall be whiter than the snow. Oh how very wonderful. How I struggle. How I labor. To make myself acceptable in the sight of God. And beloved it's impossible.

Justification by Faith Rather Than Human Effort

Out of the question. If Abraham had... He may have. If he is justified by verse but not before God. But what says the scripture. He staggered not at the promise of God to unbelieve. But he was strong in faith.

Giving glory to God. Being fully persuaded to perform. And tonight as we come to the table of the Lord. Let us look into the face of Jesus. That Lamb of God. That wonderful head that was once crowned with many crowns.

And now crowned with thorns. Am I guilty tonight. Or has he washed me clean. If not he'll wash you tonight. Oh thank God if we confess our sin. If you want to get rid of it. Though your sins be as garments.

Beloved there's too much playing with sin. Until it blinds your eyes. Until you can't see it. You're not convicted anymore. Isn't it strange what people can get away with. Strange what they can do outside of church.

They've never been convicted. I tell you why. They've never cried. Wash me. And I shall be whited in the snow. They've never confessed their sin. They've never sinned their sin. Christ the son of God.

We haven't prayed that prayer. Beloved you're lost. Well that's what Jesus Christ came to do. To seek that which is lost. Oh God by the good shepherd give us his life. For the sheep. And tonight he prepares a table before me.

Seeking the Kingdom and Expecting the Lord’s Return

In the presence of mine enemies. Oh how I need this bread that comes down from heaven. What are you after? The things of earth. Business. Pleasure. Money. Oh you're having a wonderful time aren't you?

I tell you the devil's laughing. He's having a wonderful time. He's got you by the neck. And he'll drown you in perdition. I don't say that. That's what the bible says. Oh after all those things. Do the heathen seek.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God. Here's the king. Once crowned with thorns. But oh God has highly exalted him. And given him a name. Which is above everything to do. Tonight before we come to the table of the Lord.

God could give us some real comfort. If you could shine through these hearts tonight. You say you have not sinned. You're fooling yourself. Jesus Christ would cleanse us. His precious blood would be applied.

And the spirit of God would answer to that blood. And work in us to will. And to do of his good pleasure. Now why do I talk like this? Do you know that the coming of the Lord is at hand? Do you know how I know Jesus Christ is when you see all these things come to pass.

Then lift up your heads. What is he talking about? Why when all the nations are trembling with fear. And isn't that the case today? Why just before coming to meeting. I read of a threat. By one of the great men of this earth.

He says it means all. I'm not trying to scare you. But I'm trying to tell you that it's time to lift up our heads. It's time to look for him. It's time to. Oh the people that have all kinds of time. Instead of waiting upon the Lord.

Instead of seeking him. Instead of getting filled with a lesson again. He has saved us and called us with a holy calling. Not according to our works. But according to his own purpose. And grace. Which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

Christ’s Glory, the Coming Judgment, and the Table of the Lord

Oh he says the nation shall be turned into hell. And all the people that forget God. But Jesus says. These are mine. And now father they're yours. And the glory which thou gavest me. I have given them.

That they might behold the glory which was mine before the world. The Lord's coming. Praise the Lord. And once more we come to the table of the Lord. To remember him. To remember his wonderful death. To eat the flesh and drink the blood of the son of man.

To be minister to that bread that comes down from heaven. Is at hand. Even at the door. Before we close this meeting tonight. Da da da da. A trumpet. Not retreat.