IN REMEMBRANCE (A Maundy Thursday sermon)
Text: I Corinthians 11:23-26
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: (24) And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. (25) After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. (26) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come (NRSV).
When we think about remembering someone who is dead, we tend to think about an epitaph. An epitaph is an inscription on someone’s tombstone. It sounds like Jesus is giving us an epitaph that He wants to be remembered by when He tells us to remember Him at the Last Supper. The words that Jesus is speaking to us are more than just an epitaph, they are a legacy. The legacy that Jesus is passing on to us is one that must be carried out by remaining active by living out all that Jesus taught us about being His disciples.
All of us realize that we are not perfect and that there is humanly no way possible for us to live as if we are. But, it is perfection that we are striving for as we strive to live out all that Jesus taught us about being His disciples.
WE OFFER OURSELVES IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING
It is not always easy offer ourselves in praise in a way that is praiseworthy.
1) The world is always whispering to us that we can have life our own way and have all that we will ever need.
2) We know that Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44) is the one who is speaking that lie.
3) Another worldly lie that Satan tries to get us to listen to is that the only one that we need to look out for is big number one--- seeking the praise of men rather than offering ourselves in praise to God.
When we sincerely offer ourselves in praise we are offering our best to God.
1) Jesus gave God His best while He was here on earth, during his earthly ministry.
2) There is always the temptation of doing enough to just get by.
3) When we offer ourselves in praise with sincerity and devotion to God, we are remembering that we are God’s children who were bought with a price (I Corinthians 6:20).
WE OFFER OURSELVES AS A HOLY AND LIVING SACRIFICE.
Suppose that there a teenage actress who is a Christian. One day she was offered a role on a soap opera. She had agent who was helping her to work out the terms. She did not want to be involved in any scenes that alluded to immoral behavior. At first, everything was promising. Then, it was brought to her attention that her role would be one that would eventually evolve into everything that she was against. She declined the role because she did not want to be associated with that kind of behavior on screen or off the screen that would be degrading to what it means to be a Christian.
Jesus is the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). Consider I Peter 1:15: “But just as one who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written “Be holy, because I am holy” (NIV). The One who makes us holy also calls us to a life of holiness. We called to make a difference not by blending in but by standing out as Christ’s disciples.
OUR OFFERING SHOULD BE IN HARMONY WITH CHRIST’S OFFERING FOR US.
We will suffer hardships because we are Christians.
1) Salty Christians : Christians are the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16). The witness of who we are might sting in the lives of those who are not Christian, just as salt stings in a cut.
2) Lamplighter Christians : Our light shines in their darkness and those that repel the light do so because they love the darkness and their deeds are evil (John 3:19,20). Like the lamplighters before the days of electricity, we are called to punch holes in the darkness.
3) Adversity : Christians will sometimes be persecuted because of who we are. In spite of the adversity we will encounter, the Lord will give us what we need to endure---His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses and His grace is sufficient!
Mike Warnke who is now an evangelist was at one time a Satanist. During the days of the war in Vietnam he joined the navy. It was during his time in boot camp that he became a Christian. There were two others who happened to be Christians who were living in the quarters with him. They did a third party style of witnessing. One Christian would tell the other about Jesus in Mike Warnke’s presence. One day, Warnke decided that he had enough. Out of anger he hit one of the Christians in such a way that he tripped and hit his locker. By the time he was through falling his nose was broken and his face was bloody. Warnke gave a stern warning something like, “If you ever mention Jesus around me again, I’ll cut you open like a Christmas turkey”. The Christian sat there with his broken nose and bloody face said, “But, Mike I got to tell you about Jesus, because He loves you and I love you to”. Warnke was now confused, as he said “You mean to tell me that after I just hit you, that you are going to tell me that you love me?” The Christian took his hand and ran across his face and then held out his hand and said, “If you are good enough for Jesus, you are good enough for me”. Not long after that Mike Warnke later had a quiet moment in a broom closet where he read some of the Bible and received the gift of salvation.
It is by Jesus’ wounds that we are healed (Isaiah 53:5, Hebrews 12:13, James 5:16). Consider I Peter 2:20-21: “But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps” (NIV). Yes, it is true, we may not be physically beaten most of the time for our faith. Yet, it is also true that we will sometimes be persecuted or ridiculed if nothing else.
When we celebrate communion, we are celebrating our union with Christ. When we celebrate communion in remembrance of who Jesus is as our Lord and Savior, we are remembering that we were bought with a price. We are called to be His disciples and to remember this sacrament and the sacrifice that Jesus made for us every time we celebrate Holy Communion until Christ comes again. When Jesus comes again, our suffering will cease. Until then, we need to remember who we are and whose we are. We need to be contagious Christians--- salt of the earth and the light of the world. We also need to live our lives in such a way that others will see our good deeds and give God the glory (Matthew 5: 16).
In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
