"What Should We Remember?"
1 Cor. 11:23-28
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
Intro:
Often we are admonished by the words, do this in remembrance of me. These words commonly adorn the face of communion tables such as ours. What do the words mean? What are they telling us to do? The words do this refer to eating the bread and drinking the wine of communion. This seems to be the almost universally understood and accepted meaning of that portion of the admonition.
But we appear to be a bit more vague as to what is meant by the rest of the sentence. We find more variety of opinion when it comes to the words in remembrance of me. Some appear to think of them as a sad reminder of Good Friday. They are accompanied by a sense of grief over the death of Christ.
Some view them as a form of repetitiously dragging up the past. There is remorse for past sins; regret for a former way of life.
But I don’t think Jesus intends us to mourn once a month. That doesn’t seem in keeping with the tone and tenor of everything else God does in the Bible.
Hebrews says the role of Old Testament sacrifices was to remind us of sins committed. (10:3) It doesn’t seem right that God would replace the Old Testament animal sacrifices with the offering of His
Son on the cross, if they both had the same effect. But Jesus’ sacrifice is more than a reminder of our propensity to sin. It is the means God utilizes to wash our sins away.
I believe communion is intended to do more than remind us of Jesus’ crucifixion and the former guilt of our past sins. I have pulled four things from this text I believe we are to recall in communion.
Jesus On the Cross.
For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death
Not morbidly or mournfully, but sacrificially and redemptively. He didn’t die on the cross to make us feel bad about it from now on. He took our place on the cross to do something for us we are incapable of doing for ourselves.
He doesn’t want you to look at this loaf and cup like someone placing flowers on a grave. It’s true the emblems are reminders, but let them remind us of how willing God is to wipe our slate clean. May they speak to you of His love and His desire to forgive rather than punish. I hope communion speaks to you of the price God paid to prove His love for you.
Most protestant believers do not own or fully appreciate the crucifix. For us it represents only a fraction of the story of God’s salvation in Christ. Yes, Jesus died for our sins, but He also rose from the dead and ever lives to make intercession for us now in heaven. (Heb. 7:25) For us Jesus on the cross represents the grace of God. For us the cross is empty because it was a momentary suffering for our eternal good.
As you remember Jesus on the cross, remember the redemption purchased with His blood. Remember the goal of God in Christ’s crucifixion was the purchase of the souls of man.
Jesus In Our Life
Communion should serve to remind us that we are not alone. We have not been left on our own to find our way. Jesus came from glory to save us. He has promised to never leave us. And we have the assurance that He dwells within each and every believer, every moment of every day and night.
From within us He is always busy, cleaning, coaching, helping, healing, . . . always doing something to help us along our way in His service. We can be holy because He is alive and at work within
us. His power is brought to bear on our account.
It’s an everyday happening, not an occasional event. Whether facing trials, temptations, afflictions; whether abounding or being abased, whether prospering or suffering loss, Jesus has established residence within our hearts. He is an ever present reality in our life.
Jesus In the Clouds
until He comes
The Lord has promised to return for us. He is coming back to take us to be with Him where He is.
This is a happy promise. We look forward to this event with joyful anticipation. One day He will part the sky and call to those who are His and we will ascend to join Him in the clouds.
This serves as incentive for holy living and as the knot in our rope to help us hold on a little while longer. (Heb. 10:37)
Communion reminds us of Jesus in the clouds of glory.
Jesus On the Bench (Bema)
Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
We should remember to examine ourselves. This is a sober thing. We are charged by grace and we are warned by judgement - even to the point of sickness and death - to be sure of our soul when we enjoy this meal. This is not some quaint little feature churches have decided to add to their services. It is an observance of the Lord’s Supper. It is supposed to be observed by those endeavoring to do the will of God; not by those who choose to ignore His standards of holiness.
The warning of this passage seems very strong and clear: if you won’t judge yourself and live as He requires, He will judge you; if you will not leave your sins, He will punish them. If you eat this meal lightly in insincerity and hypocrisy, He can bring about a set of sober circumstances. If you live contrary to His will and yet
partake of the meal symbolic of conformity to His will, do not think it strange if He challenges your pretensions.
I fully expect one day to witness someone die in church from disregarding the warnings of these verses. And I have no idea how I will explain it to the paramedics and police. But then I guess I won’t have to explain it to them. It will be the Lord’s doings not mine.
We are called to remember Jesus on the judgement seat of Christ. We are answerable for all our sins. He will not tolerate a continual mocking of His feast.
I believe to eat this meal with a continual sin lurking in our heart with little or no intention to root it out is to eat with unworthy motives. It is like the father who questions the intentions of his daughters’ suitor. He wants to be certain the fellows’ intentions are honorable. God wants the same when we propose to court the flesh and the blood of His Son.
So we examine ourselves, judge our sins, confess them, repent of them, and share the Lord’s bread and cup with proper consideration of His body and blood.
Close:
Let communion remind you of these things as you partake today.
We should remember the price He paid.
We should remember to be holy.
We should remember He is always with us.
We should remember He is coming back soon. (and)
We should remember He is the Judge.
