Where Christ Serves

by M.L. Smith

“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:28

To many, worship is often seen as something we do—our offering, our praise, our devotion. But the Divine Service is not primarily our service to God, but God’s gracious service to us. It is Divine. It is Service. And it is Christ Himself who serves. The crucified and risen Lord Jesus comes to deliver His life-giving gifts. He gives; we receive. He speaks; we listen. He forgives; we rejoice. The Divine Service then is heaven touching earth, time caught up into eternity, and redeemed sinners gathered into the fellowship of the Triune God.

Christ at the Center

The heart of Christian worship is not emotion or entertainment, but Christ Jesus—His Word, His promises, His gifts. The Divine Service is not a drama about God; it is an encounter with God. As the Lord vowed to come to bless His people wherever He causes His holy Name to be remembered (Exodus 20:24), so now the risen Christ comes among us, fulfilling that promise in the fullness of His presence (Matthew 18:20).

He is both the Host and the Server, the Giver and the Gift. Every part of the liturgy proclaims and delivers Him: from the Invocation to the Benediction, from the Kyrie’s cry for mercy to the Sanctus’ song of heaven, from the Word read and preached to the Body and Blood given and received. Here, Christ is truly present to cleanse, forgive, heal, strengthen, and renew His people. 

Every part of the liturgy proclaims and delivers [Christ]: from the Invocation to the Benediction, from the Kyrie’s cry for mercy to the Sanctus’ song of heaven, from the Word read and preached to the Body and Blood given and received.

The Word That Gives Life

In the Service of the Word, God speaks. Through the Scriptures and the sermon, the living voice of the Good Shepherd calls His sheep. His Word is not merely informative; it is performative and transformative. It is living and active, killing sin and raising faith. It is the sword of the Spirit and the balm of the wounded. And where that Word is proclaimed faithfully, Christ is present and at work, giving Himself and His life-giving gifts.

This is why the liturgy is rich with Scripture from beginning to end. We sing the Psalms, echo the songs of heaven, pray the prayer our Lord Himself taught us. Through these Spirit-breathed words, Christ blesses His people, sanctifies His Church, and unites our voices with the saints in every age. Worship then is not a solo act of a single congregation, but the united voice of the one holy Church—gathered across generations, languages, and lands—praising God for the gifts and blessings we receive in Christ Jesus.

The Gifts That Nourish

In the Service of the Sacrament, Christ feeds us with His precious body and blood. The altar is not a stage; it is His throne of grace. The Sacrament is not a symbol; it is the gift of Christ Jesus Himself. “This is my body… This is my blood… for the forgiveness of sins.” Here is the Gospel made edible. Here is love made tangible. Here the Church is gathered and nourished and made one in Christ.

The Lord’s Supper is not our offering to God; it is His offering to us. Receiving the Sacrament is the highest and most sacred act of worship—not because we give to God, but because God Incarnate gives Himself to us in the most intimate and profound way. The Lamb who was slain is now the Host who feeds His lambs, drawing them into communion with Himself and with each other.

Heaven on Earth

The Divine Service is not a break from reality; it is reality breaking into our lives. In it, the veil between heaven and earth is lifted. We join angels and archangels and all the company of heaven. We kneel at an altar that is joined to the heavenly feast, surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses.

Whereas the world may see only a place of wood and stone. Faith sees the house of God. The eyes may see a modest assembly. Faith beholds the gathered glory of the Kingdom. The ears may hear the voice of a man. Faith hears the voice of our living and life-giving Lord. And the heart is filled with His peace.

Formed to Serve

The Benediction sends us into the world bearing Christ. Having been served by Him, we are sent to serve others. Having received mercy, He calls on us to show mercy. Having been filled with His love, He calls on us to share His love with others. The Divine Service forms and shapes us through the working of the Holy Spirit, sending us to live as the Body of Christ in the world. 

And so, we return again and again—not out of mere obligation, but because this is our lifeline. In a world of weariness and sin, the Church gathers where Christ is present: to be forgiven, fed, comforted, strengthened, and equipped for service in the world.

Christ’s Service

The Divine Service is Christ’s ongoing ministry. He, the eternal High Priest, still intercedes. He still speaks. He still serves. He still saves. As surely as He came once in humility, He comes now in Word and Sacrament. And He will come again in glory.

Until that day, we gather—not to perform, but to receive; not to impress, but to be renewed in Him. By His divine power, we are made partakers of His life, clothed in His righteousness, and filled with His Spirit. Week after week, the weary are welcomed, the broken are mended, and sinners are declared saints—not by our efforts, but by the gracious work of Christ, who still serves His people.

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence…” – 2 Peter 1:3

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Rev. M.L. Smith is Director of International Missions of Lutheran Church–Canada.

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