How Could I Forget You? – A Lord’s Supper Sermon
There are dozens of things in my life that I have forgotten. I would tell you all about them – but then – I just don’t remember them.
Some of the things that I don’t remember are all of the address from where I have lived. I don’t remember all the phone number of each house that I have lived in or even the area codes. Yet I can name all of the states – those I remember. Ohio, Arizona, California, Washington, Alaska, New Jersey, Kentucky, Tennessee and Kansas. (In writing this sermon I had forgotten about New Jersey.)
I cannot recall names of all the teachers that I have had down through the years- I know that there have been over a two dozen of them. Names like – Farthing, Messer, Dilly, Talley and Calendar – come to mind. But there are many more – some I remember – but some I have forgotten.
There are times when I cannot even tell you what I had for dinner last night – let alone last week. The menu slips my mind.
There are times that I have gotten up from my chair in the living room – headed for the kitchen – and when I get there I can’t even remember what I am there for. (I am sure that has never happened to any of you.) By the time I had made the short trip - I have forgotten.
But can I ever forget Jesus Christ?
Our text for today is found in First Corinthians chapter eleven and verse twenty four. Follow along with me as I read:
“Do this to remember me.” 1 Corinthians 11:24 (MSG)
I am sure that you recall the context of this verse. Paul is teaching about the Lord’s Supper and he says, “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 (NKJV)
Is it possible to forget Jesus? Is it possible not to remember? Is it possible to live the Christian life – and yet forget the Christ whom we say we follow? Is that why we are reminded to:
“Do this to remember me.”
I know that I have forgotten lots of things – but is it possible to forget this One that is so important to me? Is it possible for you to forget Him also? My sermon outline today consists of three questions.
Can you forget His Life?
Can you forget His Death?
Can you forget His Sacrifice?
Let’s start with question one:
I. Can you forget His LIFE?
Can you forget His birth? Born of the Virgin Mary – conceived by the Holy Spirit. Can we forget this? Can we forget that shepherd’s were out in the fields watching their sheep at night when suddenly angles appeared and told the shepherds the Good News? A child has been born – a son has been given – a special child – who will be called Immanuel – God with us. Can we forget this?
Can we forget His baptism? When He descended into the water of the Jordan and a voice from heaven spoke saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Or can we forget Him in the wilderness? Fasting for forty days – hungry – stomach completely empty – like a resurrected tomb. Have you ever thought of the scene? Jesus was in a barren waste land – weary and way-worn. He sits down on a rock – forty days He has fasted. He is hungry – and it is at this point Satan steps in. He knows that Jesus is hungry – he knows the fast that our Savior has gone through – so he says, “If you are the Son of God – if you are who you really claim to be – command this stone to be made into bread.” I can almost see Satan standing there with a cunning smile on his face – with a malicious leer in his eyes – holding a stone in his hand. “Turn this stone into bread – you know you want it - you know that you are hungry. Look out for your own needs first – that is what anyone else would do. Go ahead it isn’t that big of a deal. Take care of your own needs - look out for number one.” But Jesus responded, “Man shall not live by bread alone – but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. It is more important for me to do God’s will than it is for me to feed my face.” Do you remember that battle over bread – do you remember that temptation – do you remember how He put Satan to shame? How can you forget?
Or who can forget the miracles He performed? Turning water into wine – would you ever have imagined that? He added new excitement to a wedding - woke the party up. Remember Him giving sight to the blind – healing those with leprosy – make the deaf to hear again – walking on water – taking a small boys lunch and turned it into a feast - feeding a multitude with plenty left over. Can you forget His miracles? Can you not remember?
The life He lived He lived for you - remember?
Or what about point two:
II. Can you forget His DEATH?
Can you not picture a garden in the darkness of night? Four figures – three sleeping – one in prayer. It is a shady garden full of olive trees. Oh that spot! I would that I had words to explain in great detail of the garden, that your imagination might take you there. Oh! If the Spirit would give us a vision of that place – how would we ever forget it?
His friends would soon abandon Him. His enemies would soon grab Him. Can you forget that scene? Oh, Jesus – help me to remember - I must remember you. I cannot but help remembering you.
His life was nearing an end. The hours were ticking away. The tragedy of all mankind lay just around the bend in the road. The shouts of joy at His entrance into Jerusalem would soon be turned into shouts of hate. “Crucify Him – Crucify Him - Crucify Him.” Don’t you remember? Did you forget? What began in a wooden manger – was coming to an end on a wooden cross. Don’t you remember?
Let me lead you to Pilate’s hall, and may you see him endure the mockeries of cruel soldiers – the blows of clenched fists – the spitting – the pulling of hair from its roots. Oh – can you not see the King of Glory – the King of kings - stripped of His garment – exposed to the gaze of crowds. Don’t you remember? Don’t you remember? Don’t you remember? Don’t you recall? Has the memory vanished? Have you forgotten?
The heavens observed the spectacle. Every detail was recorded and remembered. “It is finished – it is over – it is done." He shouted. Can you forget the words? Can you forget His death?
Now, finish the scene of Calvary. The body hangs limp on the cross. The hands and feet are pierced. The blood from wounds is drying on His lifeless flesh. His side though is still is still bleeding - where the spear had pierced Him. They take Him down - limp dead to bury Him. That is what they do with a dead man. The scorching sun is gone and all that remains is the darkness. Not just physical darkness - but spiritual darkness as well. Don’t you remember? Don’t you recall? How could you forget?
Let me ask:
III. Can you forget His SACRIFICE?
It appears almost impossible that those who have been redeemed by the blood of the dying Lamb should ever forget His sacrifice – that those who have been loved with an everlasting love by the eternal Son of God – could we ever forget the Son of God. Can you forget the One who never forgot you? Can we forget He who poured His life blood for your sins? Can you forget the One who loved you so much that He even sacrificed Himself for you? Can you forget Him? Can you stop remembering?
The Bible tells us: ‘The soul that sinneth it shall die.’ (Ezekiel 18:20 (KJ) and die it must. If I have broken God’s law – if I have disobeyed His word - and I have – I must be punished for it. I must die for it - or someone must die for it. How will you comfort me? How will you soften the judgment that is about to fall on me? How will you give me words that will give me peace - that will put my soul at rest?
I know! Tell me that there is One who paid the penalty for my sin. Tell me that there is One who has made complete atonement. Tell me that there is One that died for my sin. Tell me that there is One who took my sin to the cross and hung it there so that I don’t have to suffer for it. Tell me - tell me please.
Folks – there is One. His name is Jesus Christ. Can you forget Him? Can you block Him out of your memory? Never! Never! Never!
God has washed my sins away. He has made me as clean as new fallen snow. Paul is writing to the church at Corinth – explaining to them who shall inherit the Kingdom of God and he says:
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NKJV)
Go ahead and circle the phrase “And such were some of you.” – it is true - some of you fall into the list - me too. We all have sinned – we all have fallen short of God’s glory. But look at that next phrase: But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” Go ahead and circle the three "Buts" in that verse. The word "but" is the most important word in that verse. What an amazing thing!
Folks – one of the biggest words in our language is the word - BUT. I was dirty – BUT I have been washed. I was unholy – BUT I have been sanctified. I was unrighteous – BUT now I have been justified. Where things looked hopeless – God stepped in and did something about. I was to die for my sin - BUT God stepped in. Can I forget Him? Can I not remember?
Folks - we forget Christ because there are so many other things around us to attract our attention - but we will not forget Him today. Today we have come together to remember – and remember we shall. We remember His life. We remember His death. We remember His sacrifice for us. How can we ever forget?
