Desire for Communion. Did Jesus Lose Faith? The Son of Man. New Testament Circumcision.
by the Rev. Walter Snyder

Q: Maybe you can help me understand why some churches do not believe in taking
communion, at least not very often. I believe this mostly comes from Pentecostal or
nondenominational churches, but I wonder what the theory is behind this.

A: Some people have a hard time believing that God works through means (such as water, bread, or
wine). They usually also have a low view of the pastoral office, since the pastor is also a means or
channel of God's grace. They think that "direct" contact with God is to be preferred. This is
especially true with those who believe that the Lord's Supper is only a memorial meal or some sort of
vague "spiritual" eating and drinking of Christ's body and blood. They can "remember" him and
receive him spiritually without eating and drinking. However, if the bread and wine truly are his body
and blood, as I believe Scripture clearly states, then desire to receive the Sacrament 
regularly is much more likely. After all, if you truly desire "direct" contact with God, what is more
immediate that handling, eating, and drinking the body and blood of the God-man Jesus Christ?

Q: I have two questions for you. First, why did Jesus lose his faith when he was on the cross? In
Matthew it says that he said, "Father, why have you forsaken me?" I don't understand that:
Jesus was perfect yet he lost faith at one point during the crucifixion. My other question is why
does the Bible say "Son of Man" when speaking of Jesus? Sometimes it says Son of God which
makes more sense to me. I hope you can answer these questions for me. I haven't had much
luck in getting them answered.

A: I don't think that it was possible for Jesus to lose his faith. He is, as you note, the Son of God and
is truly and fully God. However, what he did was call to mind the 22nd Psalm, placing his crucifixion
in context of the Hebrew Scriptures while also speaking a legitimate, from-the-heart prayer at his
time of deepest suffering. These words remind the hearer that Christ went through "hell on earth" to
redeem sinners, since the worst part of hell is abandonment by the God who sinners have
abandoned. Insofar as it was possible, the Eternal Father severed relations with the Eternal Son, even
though they are One. This mystery of the crucifixion reveals also the mystery of God's great love.

As for the second question, the answer is twofold. Jesus is called the Son of Man to remind us that he
is true man, born of the Virgin Mary, even as he is also true God. This title also echoes the vision of
Daniel, who saw the one like the Son of Man with the Ancient of Days. Thus, by calling himself the
Son of Man so regularly, especially in Matthew's account, Jesus is calling to mind what was foretold
in Daniel's vision: "Behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a Son of Man, and he
came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and
glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an
everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
(7:13--14)"

Q: Why was circumcision such an important issue in the Early Church?

A: Circumcision was being required by some Jewish Christians or Christian pretenders of Gentile
converts. As a group, they are often known as the Judaizers, who worked to put Gentiles freed by the
Gospel under the weight of the Law. Paul is especially harsh on such people in Galatians, even
mentioning how Peter sinned by attempting to please the "circumcision party" in 2:12. Medical
circumcision was not the target of his displeasure; it was what was being done for religious purposes.
Chapter 5 speaks of how receiving circumcision after becoming a Christian causes one to sever
himself from Christ, falling away from grace. He then notes in chapter 6 that the very people who
argue so vehemently for circumcision don't "keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised
that they may glory in your flesh. (6:13)" He concludes his attack on this and all other forms of
works-righteousness by noting that it is not human deeds, including circumcision, that really matters,
but that God makes us "a new creation. (6:15)"

To Ask the Pastor, please write Ask the Pastor, PO Box 12, Emma, MO, 65327 or send email to
askthepastor@aol.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of the book
"What Do Lutherans Believe."

Ask the Pastor is copyright (c) 2001 by Walter P. Snyder. It may be reproduced in totality,
including this disclaimer, by anyone, provided that no profit is generated by said republication and
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