Remember…
There’s a story about a guy from the city who was visiting relatives on a farm and the farmer gave a whistle and his dog herded the cattle into the corral, then latched the gate with her paw. "Wow, that’s some dog. What’s her name?" The forgetful farmer thought a minute, then asked, "What do you call that red flower that smells good and has thorns on the stem?" "A rose?" "That’s it!" The farmer turned to his wife. "Hey Rose, what do we call this dog?"
QUESTION – can you relate? I MEAN … do you ever have trouble forgetting things? LIKE - your keys?, Wallet? Checkbook? a telephone number you’ve written down? someone’s name? a birthday or an anniversary? NOW - everyone forgets at one time or another, according to Karen Bolla, a John Hopkins University researcher. These are the things people most often forget;
• names
• where something is
• telephone numbers
• words
• what was said
• faces
YOU KNOW - it’s been said that there are really only 3 kinds of memory - good, bad and convenient.
There were 3 widows who living together in Florida who had bad memories. One sister got up to go to bed, half way up the stairs she stopped and asked "was I going up or was I coming down"
One sister replied with hint of aggravation, "you were going up to bed." A second sister headed into the kitchen to make herself a sandwich. Once in the kitchen she hollered back to her sister who was still down stairs; "what did I come in here for"
The sister responded again with a trace of irritation, "you went in to make yourself a sandwich" after which she said; "I’m so glad I am not as forgetful as the both of you are" as she knock on the end table. And then she got up and walked over to the door and said "Who is it?"
Yes, we are a forgetful people. And from my vast experience I have concluded that forgetfulness is not a respecter of age. And therefore we come up with all kinds of ways to help us remember; (string around finger; post it notes, day planners, memory courses, neon signs)
This weekend is the observance of a very special holiday in our country, Memorial Day. AND - contrary to popular practice and understanding this day means much more than: cook outs, boating, beach trips, BBQ’S, pool openings, or 4 day weekends.
NOW - I’m not saying that those things are bad… IN FACT - they are all fine and good, BUT - memorial day has a much deeper meaning… YOU SEE – tomorrow is a time set aside every year, to both remember and honor those men & women who have died, who have given the ultimate gift, their life’s in battle for our country.
(I for one, would love to be DC tomorrow as they officially dedicate the WW II memorial)
In April 1863, in Columbus, Mississippi after decorating the graves of her two sons who served during the Civil War as Confederate soldiers, an elderly woman also decorated two mounds at the corner of the cemetery. An observer asked, “What are you doing? Those are the graves of two Union soldiers.” Her reply was, “I know. I also know that somewhere in the North, a mother or a young wife mourns for them as we do for ours.” [This lady and a few others] set in motion what became known as Memorial Day.
Which become a national holiday in 1971.
I love this country. AND – I don’t care whether it is politically correct or not… BUT – like the Lee Greenwood song says, ‘I’m proud to be an American.” I’m proud of what this country represents, what it stands for and what it was found on – a belief in God and that all men are created equal.
I’m proud to be a citizen of a country that is not just great but that is good. No – we are far from perfect but there is no country like this one. I MEAN – it’s awesome to part of a country that helps so many other countries around the world.
AND – though I take it for granted most of the time – I am grateful for the freedom that we have. AND – for the men who have died over the last 228 years so that you and I can be free today. Freedom has a cost…
• Revolutionary War - 4,435
• War of 1812 – 2,260
• Civil War – 498,332
• WW I – 116,516
• WW II - 405,899 (283 every day)
• Korea – 36,516
• Vietnam – 58,198
• Gulf War (1991) – 338
• Iraqi Freedom - ~ 700 (1,123,194 million)
UNDERSTAND – there are men & women at this very moment on foreign soil, fighting to keep us safe from those who would seek to destroy and fighting to bring freedom to an oppressed and tortured people.
Prayer…. (Jim Smith Vietnam vet)
YES - we are a forgetful people, and not only do we forget names, where we put our wallet.. AND - the meaning of memorial day - but we also tend to forget God and all that he has done for us... - THAT IS WHY throughout the bible God’s people are exhorted to remember him. (over 100 examples of this in the bible)
Remember that the LORD rescued you from the burning furnace of Egypt to become his own people and special possession; that is what you are today…. Dt 5:20 (NLT)
Always remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God redeemed you - Dt 24:18
Remember the wonders he has done... Ps 105:5
Remember the LORD, even though you are in a far-off land, and think about your home in Jerusalem." Jer 51:50 (NLT)
Remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)-- remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. Eph 2:11-13
Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. Rev 2:5
Remember the teaching that you were given and that you heard. Hold firmly to it and turn from your sins. If you don’t wake up, I will come when you least expect it, just as a thief does… Rev 3:3 (CEV)
We are a forgetful people… That is why we so desperately need reminders. AND – this morning in a message, I am simply calling ‘Remember’ I want to talk about the greatest warrior and the most significant sacrifice in all of human history… AND – the 2,000 year old memorial that was erected in an upper room in Jerusalem – so we would never forget!
Then at the proper time Jesus and the twelve apostles sat down together at the table. Jesus said, "I have looked forward to this hour with deep longing, anxious to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat it again until it comes to fulfillment in the Kingdom of God."
Then he took a cup of wine, and when he had given thanks for it, he said, "Take this and share it among yourselves. For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come." Then he took a loaf of bread; and when he had thanked God for it, he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." After supper he took another cup of wine and said, "This wine is the token of God’s new covenant to save you--an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you. Luke 22:14-20 (NLT)
NOW – I find this passage both interesting & intriguing…
Do you know what I find interesting about this passage. Of all the gospel writers who record this event, only Luke mentions that the Lord’s Supper was to become a memorial feast.
YOU SEE - the words, "Do this in remembrance of me" are not found in the other gospel account of that night in the upper room. You won’t find them in Matthew, Mark or John. IN FACT - the only other place where we find these words are in 1 Cor 11 where Paul discusses the Lord’s Supper.
I find it very interesting that the only ones who recorded those words of Jesus that night were 2 people who were not even the upper room. (no doubt aided by the Holy Spirit in this knowledge). TO - me the fact that only Luke and Paul mentions this, underscores the fact that we are a forgetful people who are in constant need of some of kind of ‘memorial’ to help remember.
AND – what intrigues me about this passage in Luke; IS – exactly what does Jesus want us to remember about Him, as we take the Lord’s Supper? In our text in Luke 22:15 Jesus said, "I have eagerly desired to have this meal with you...."
In the original language the same word is actually used twice and Jesus is saying is, "with desire I desire to have this meal with you...." This was no routine Passover meal - it was significant to Jesus and He with great passion wanted to share it with them..
NOW - I believe that Jesus’ "double desire" was fueled by 2 things; FIRST - His desire for His disciples to know the true meaning of the Passover... For years his people had only celebrated a shadow -but now the real thing was here! The true lamb of God was standing before them and the real Passover was about to be celebrated.
No longer would God’s people celebrated the shadow every year... This was to be the last - the final Passover meal. The Passover meal was handing the baton of memory to another memorial feast, the Lord’s Supper.
A second thing that fueled Jesus desire to have this meal with His disciples and equally flammable was His desire for them to remember Him. YOU SEE - Christ was about to go to the cross, he was about to die.. The close fellowship they shared was about to be no more...
I have been with many people who were nearing the end of their earthly life. AND – the "double desire" of nearly everyone was that their loved ones would always remember and not forget them....
This week as I sat at my desk, I asked myself – what does Jesus want us to remember about Him as we take communion? FRIENDS – I thought long and hard on this. AND – in our time remaining I’d like to share with you what I came up with…
NOW – the 3 main points are… REMEMBER – How He lived, Why He died & What He said….
Remember HOW He Lived…
There is a scene at the end of the movie, The Last Samurai, where Tom Cruise who plays an American soldier (Nathan Algren) who travels to Japan to help the government put down an uprising lead by a Samurai named Katsumoto.
During the movie Algren and Katsumoto become friends and fellow warriors. IN FACT - Algren is with Katsumoto when he dies on the battlefield.
IN – this final scene, the young Japanense Emperor (who loved and was mentored by Katsumoto)… asks Algren if he was with Katsumoto when he died. Algren says yes… Then the emperor asks him, ‘tell me how he died..’ And - Algren with great passion looks up and says, ‘I will tell you, how he lived…’
NOW – I could be wrong… BUT – I believe that when Jesus says, ‘Do this in remembrance of me…” He – had more in mind then just how he died.
LISTEN – when Jesus first took a hold of that bread, and lifted it into the air giving thanks… there – was a time when that bread was not broken… AND – in like manner there was a time before Christ body was broken on that cross that He was very much alive…
AND – like Algren, let me tell you how Jesus lived…
He Lived Humbly
LISTEN – Jesus though He had every reason not too (like being all powerful, all knowing, all present, creating the world – like being GOD), was the humblest person who ever walked the face of his earth.
IF – ever there was a person who had the right to live as though life was all about him…it was Jesus…. BUT INSTEAD - Jesus lived as though it was all about everyone else… WHEN – you take communion… REMEMBER – how he lived, he lived humbly…
Paul in his letter to the church in Philippi pens 4 verses that speak to Christ’s humility like no other verses in entire bible…
Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross. – Philippians 2:5-8
CIRCLE - did not demand and cling to his rights
made himself nothing
took the humble position of a slave
DO YOU – see Him kneeling there? The KING of kings, The LORD of lords, The alpha and omega, the beginning and the end, the creator of all we see, God the Son – kneeling before and washing 24 dirty feet that would in just a few hours abandon Him and leave Him alone…
REMEMBER – how He lived…
NEXT…
He Lived Purposefully
Rick Warren’s book the purpose driven life has sold millions of copies. It’s a great book (we read it as a church back in the fall during our 40 days of purpose campaign) and it is helping millions of people to live life with purpose. It’s helping many people live life with God’s purpose driving and directing their steps…
The first section of Rick’s book is called, “What On Earth Am I Here For?”
AND FRIENDS – if anyone ever knew what on earth He was here for it was Jesus…
LET – me give you a few quick snap shots…
At the age of 12 Jesus went to Jerusalem with his parent for the Passover Feast. When the feast was over Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but Mary and Joseph had no idea that he was left behind. YOU SEE - they were traveling with relatives and friends and just assumed he was with them in another car playing Nintendo or something… (ever done that parents…)
WELL – it’s not until the next day that Mary & Joseph figure out that Jesus is not there. They frantically head back to the city (no doubt blaming each other..) and 3 days later they find him in the Temple courts, sitting with the teachers of the law, listening, asking them questions and everyone was amazed at his understanding and answers…
NOW – I love how the message bible words the next few verses…
But his parents were not impressed; they were upset and hurt. His mother said, "Young man, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been half out of our minds looking for you." He said, "Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be here, dealing with the things of my Father?" But they had no idea what he was talking about.
Luke 2:48-50 (Msg)
I had to be here, dealing with the things of my Father
NOW – his parents may not of had any idea as to what he was talking about, BUT – Jesus knew his purpose even then…
AND – at the age of 30 Jesus comes walking out of a desert… He had just slammed dunked the evil one who used every trick that he had up his slimy sleeve to get Jesus off center… Jesus is heading for the synagogue in his home town… YOU SEE - for years, He, was clear on his purpose, and now Jesus is going to make that purpose known.
MAN – this is an intense scene… Jesus stands up in the middle of the synagogue and reads these words from the prophet Isaiah;
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see, that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come." He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. Everyone in the synagogue stared at him intently. Then he said, "This Scripture has come true today before your very eyes!" - Lk 4:18-21
Jesus live purposefully…. He knew what on earth he was here for… His mom & dad couldn’t get him off track, his unbelieving hometown couldn’t get him off track, satan couldn’t get him off track… AND – neither could the demands of the people or the attacks of his enemy…
IN – Luke chapter 9, things are really heating up. JESUS - knows that it is now time for him to go to Jerusalem… He knew exactly what was waiting there for him, suffering and the cross… AND LUKE – guide by God the Spirit wrote these words;
Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem… Lk 9:51 (NKJV)
THAT’S – where I’m going…
Jesus lived purposefully….
NOW – before I move on I want to say one more thing… THIS – past Friday morning God taught me something about Jesus’ living purposefully…
(I HOPE – I can do this truth justice…)
OKAY… Jesus set his face to the cross, to being the sacrifice for our sins, to shedding his blood to usher in a new and better covenant… YES – the cross was coming. And he was heading there. It was the ultimate destination…
BUT – there were steps of purpose to take before the cross, right where he was… Steps that were consistent with His journey’s end…
AND LISTEN – at those moments, even though He had set his face to Jerusalem… Jesus stopped;
• To teach lessons
• Open blind eyes
• Hold little children
• Bring salvation to a short tax collector hanging from a tree…
YOU SEE – Jesus knew that EVERY; day, moment, encounter, action and reaction was just another step in this journey. FRIENDS – Jesus always took the step in the journey that was right in front of him…
I hope that makes sense…. (it does to me… last week I talked about my dream for Central… about us living out the purposes of God. I need to set my face to that purpose… BUT – at the same time ask myself, ‘what step to I take RIGHT NOW that is consistent with my journey’s end… YES… EVERY; day, moment, encounter, action and reaction, is another step in the journey to being an ACTS 2 church)
REMEMBER – How he lived… He lived humbly, purposefully AND…
He Lived Powerfully
AND - we might forget this as we hold in our hands symbols that represent his death.
BUT – checkout these words….
No one takes my life from me. I give it up willingly! I have the power to give it up and the power to receive it back again, just as my Father commanded me to do. - John 10:18 (CEV)
He took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked him, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave no answer. You won’t talk to me?" Pilate demanded. "Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or to crucify you?" Then Jesus said, "You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. John 19:9-11 (NLT)
Remember how he lived – Jesus lived powerfully…
• He turned water into wine
• Cast out legions of demons
• Multiplied 5 loaves and 2 fish and fed over 5,000 people
• He calmed violent storms
• He lame legs
• Opened blind eyes
• Walked on water
• Cleansed leprosy
• And even raised the dead back to life!
NEXT…
He Lived Passionately
I am CONVINCED – that Jesus Christ, lived every moment of every day…
That He grabbed every single day, hour & minute and drained every drop of life out of it…
Everything Jesus did, I see Him doing it with passion…
• Looking at sunrises and sunsets
• Washing dishes
• Skimming stones
• Sanding a table
• Eating good food
• Hanging out with friends
REMEMBER – How Jesus lived. He lived;
Humbly
Purposefully
Powerfully
Passionately AND…
He Lived Lovingly
LISTEN – Jesus lived a life of love… AND – his love knew NO bounds, drew NO lines… Jesus loved everyone…
• The rich -the poor
• The sick -the healthy
• The Jew - the gentile
• Old – young; sinner – saint; friend or enemy
I think Paul had Jesus in mind when he wrote that classic definition of love we find in 1 Corinthians 13;
Jesus never gives up. Jesus cares more for others than for himself. Jesus doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Jesus doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Jesus Isn’t always "me first," Jesus doesn’t fly off the handle, Jesus doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, He doesn’t revel when others grovel, Jesus… puts up with anything, always trusts, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, Jesus’ love keeps going to the end.
As you take the Lord’s Supper, REMEMBER – How Jesus lived… AND…
Remember WHY He Died…
To Cancel Your The Debt
UNDERSTAND – all of us, every man and woman who has ever lived has owed a debt that they could never pay. WE – read in Scripture…
For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Rom 3:23
For the wages of sin is death - Rom 6:23
THAT’S – not very good news…. AND - to make matters even worse there was nothing we could do to fix…(even being good, is not good enough)… BUT - the good news is that Christ hung on the cross to pay both your debt and mine…
UNDERSTAND - there was a moment on that Friday when Christ pushed up on those nails… took a deep breathe and spoke these words, “It is Finished!” AND UNDERSTAND – those were not words of defeat uttered by a dying man. BUT RATHER – they were words of victory shouted by a conquering king!
YOU SEE – that phrase is actually one word in Greek and it means ‘paid in FULL!” QUESTION – have you ever paid a bill in full? What does that mean? It means you no longer have to make any payments. NOW - I don’t know about you, but I don’t worry about any bill once it is paid in full….
LISTEN – if you are a believer every time you take communion, Jesus wants you to remember that he has paid your debt… CHECKOUT – these words…
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. Col 2:13-15
Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people--free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free!
Eph 1:7 (Msg)
Jesus died…
To Remove The Distance
QUESTION – have you ever had to be separated from a loved one? It’s not easy is it? AND – do you remember how awesome you felt when the distance was removed (when you were together again)? I MEAN – now you are holding and hugging them… It felt good didn’t it?
UNDERSTAND – God knows exactly what it’s like to be separated from the one he loves (he loves you).
Listen! The LORD is not too weak to save you, and he is not becoming deaf. He can hear you when you call. But there is a problem--your sins have cut you off from God. Because of your sin, he has turned away and will not listen anymore. - Is 59:1,2 (NLT)
Our sin – separates us from God… IT – creates a barrier, a wall, a chasm, a distance… It – prevents God from having the relationship with us that He desires…
LISTEN – when you take communion Christ wants you to remember that he died to take away the distance between you and God…
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. Eph 2:13
To Take Away Your Guilt
In one of his books Max Lucado pictures guilt as carrying around an itchy, scratchy burlap sack full of stones…
THIS MORNING – I invite you to take a look into ‘your’ burlap sack… AND – as you do perhaps you see a few stones of regret.
• Regret for the time you lost your temper.
• Regret for the day you lost control
• Regret for the moment you lost your pride
• Regret for the years you lost your priorities
• Regret for all the times you gave into that familiar sin
• Regret for all the things you said that you would or wouldn’t do
• Regret for the wild & crazy living of your youth
• Regret for putting your career before your family
• Regret for the day you lost your innocence
One stone of regret after another…
AND – do you know what? After awhile that sack of guilt starts to get pretty heavy. We get tired. I MEAN - how can you have dreams for the future when all your energy is required to shoulder the past?
NO WONDER - people look miserable. The sack slows their step, rubs hard against their present lives. NO WONDER – we see the irritation on so many faces… NO WONDER – there’s a sag in so many steps, a drag on so many shoulders, AND NO WONDER – people commit so many desperate. YOU SEE – it’s not too difficult to become consumed with doing whatever it takes to get some rest.
So you take the sack to the office. You resolve to work so hard that you’ll forget about the sack (forget about the regret and the guilt). You arrive early and stay late. People are impressed. But when it’s time to go home, the sack is still there – waiting to be carried out.
You carry the sack into happy hour. I MEAN - with a name like that, it is sure to bring relief. So you set you sack on the floor, sit on a stool and drink a few drinks. The music gets loud, your head gets light. BUT – when it’s time to go, you bump your leg and there is the guilt waiting for you to take it home…
THOUGH – nothing words… THIS – doesn’t keep you from trying. SO - you try to forget about your sack (your guilt) – in your hobbies, your money, your activities, and even in your church work.. BUT – to your great disappointment, it never really goes away, the guilt is always there. HEY – I know from personal experience what it’s like to try to move forward, dragging a load of guilt…
(Have you been there? Are you there?)
FRIENDS – Jesus wants you to remember each week when you hold the bread and the cup – that he died to take away your guilt…. All of it! UNDERSTAND – the gospel is NOT the good news of partial forgiveness… NO – it’s the good news of complete forgiveness …
LISTEN – if you are a believer who brought in a sack of guilt this morning you need to hear the scriptures I am about to read… AND – if you have never come to Christ; and had him pay your debt and take away your guilt – you need to hear these words…
Everyone who believes in him is freed from all guilt and declared right with God. - Acts 13:39 (NLT)
Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. Rm 3:24 (NLT)
He declared us not guilty because of his great kindness - Titus 3:7
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” Romans 8:1
To Bring People Together
UNDERSTAND – the world in Jesus’ day was a divided world… (Jews-gentiles, Romans-Greeks, rich-poor, slave-free).. AND – do you know what? we live in a divided world…. I HATE – division…
AND UNDERSTAND – division was not part of God’s original design for His children (parents I think you can relate)… LISTEN - Jesus wants us to remember, as we hold communion in our hands – that he died to bring people together…
CHECKOUT – what Paul wrote in Ephesians chapter 2;
He repealed the law code that had become so clogged with fine print and footnotes that it hindered more than it helped. Then he started over. Instead of continuing with two groups of people separated by centuries of animosity and suspicion, he created a new kind of human being, a fresh start for everybody. Christ brought us together through his death on the Cross. The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of the hostility.
Eph 2:15,16 (Msg)
CIRCLE - Christ brought us together through his death…
…you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians--you are one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:26-28 (NLT)
Jesus died to bring people together… He died to shatter the walls of… Despite;
• Race
• Culture
• Economics
• Education
SO THAT – we could be together…
I LOVE – what Alexander Campbell 200 years ago (one of the founders of the Restoration Movement)
“Each disciple, in handing the symbols to his fellow disciple, says, "You are my brother, once an alien, are now a citizen of heaven, once a stranger, are now brought home to the family of God. You have owned my Lord as your Lord, my people as your people. Under Jesus the Messiah we are one. Mutually embraced in the everlasting arms, I embrace you in mine: thy sorrows shall be my sorrows, and they joys my joys. Joint debtors to the favor of God and the love of Jesus, we shall jointly suffer with Him, that we may jointly reign with him. Let us then renew our strength, remember our king and hold fast our boasted hope unshaken to the end.."
To Give You New Life
AND – if we are honest we’d have to admit that the old one was not so good… (so we should keep going back to it). CHECKOUT – these passages that speak to this new life…
But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God’s side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. Col 1:22 (CEV)
CIRCLE - put your lives together, whole
“For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate.” Gal 6:14 (Msg)
CIRCLE - set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate
LISTEN – this new life that is available to you & me… AND - in this new life image is NOTHING and Christ is everything!!!!
Remember WHAT He Said…
NOW – Jesus said a whole lot of things. Awesome things, amazing things. BUT – in regards to what to remember during communion, what to think about when we hold on to the bread and the cup…I just want to mention 2 things….
I Am The Resurrection & The Life
Jesus has just arrived in Bethany, less than 2 miles from Jerusalem. AND – as soon as his sandals hit the city limits he is met by one of his closet friends… John records these words;
Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask." Jesus told her, "Your brother will rise again." "Yes," Martha said, "when everyone else rises, on resurrection day." Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again. They are given eternal life for believing in me and will never perish. Do you believe this, Martha?" "Yes, Lord," she told him. "I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God." John 11:21-27
LISTEN – when you take communion Jesus wants you to remember that his death was not the end…. Death could not hold our king… the stone was rolled away. The tomb is empty… JESUS - wants you to remember that He is the resurrection and the life, and that with Him death is never the end of the story… but just the beginning…
all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. Rm 6:3-5
…
I Will Come And Get You
It’s dark, Jesus is leading them on the way to the garden, their heads are spinning, their minds are racing… The scenes in that upper room were intense…
• Jesus (their Lord, master & Teacher) kneeling down and washing their feet.
• Jesus saying that one of them was against him and would betray him
• Jesus taking the bread & wine, talking about his broken body and shed blood
• Jesus telling them that he was going to be leaving them
• Jesus telling Peter that before the roster crowed he would deny him 3 times
TRY – to put yourself in their sandals…
What are you thinking? What are you feeling?
I don’t know about you - BUT I would be pretty freaked out….
Don’t be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. - John 14:1-3 (NLT)
CIRCLE - I will come and get you
LISTEN – Christ is coming back to get you to take you to an unbelievable future…’
"Do this in remembrance of me" Remember…
REMEMBER – How he lives, why he died and what he said….
QUESTION – why does Jesus want you to remember this stuff? BECAUSE….
• Remembering how Jesus lived – gives you direction
• Remembering why he died – gives you confidence
• Remembering what he said – gives you hope
For this is what the Lord himself said, and I pass it on to you just as I received it. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant between God and you, sealed by the shedding of my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it." For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. – 1 Cor 11:23-26 (NLT)
