Remembrance Day

On November 11, as members of a free and democratic country, we gather around to pay our respect to thousands of soldiers who have laid down their lives to defend the principles we now uphold.  On Remembrance Day we watch as veterans lay a wreath in remembrance of their buddies who never returned from the war and those who survived with deep emotional and physical scars.  They paid a great price for our freedom.

On the first Sunday of each month on the church calendar we gather around and remember someone who died that we might be free.  He is not an unknown soldier.   He is Jesus Christ the Son of God.  Isaiah tells us “he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15 that the gospel that he preached, which we have received and by which we stand, by which we are saved,  we keep in memory how Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.  If we don’t keep this in memory, our believing is in vain.

We keep these things in mind by following the example set for us in 1 Corinthians 11.  “That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 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.  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.  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord=s death till he come.”

This was to be Jesus’ last meal with His disciples before the agony of the cross.  No one would ever go through what Jesus was about to go through to redeem lost humanity.  It was for this reason that Jesus wanted to have this last fellowship with them.  Yet, it was more than just fellowship.  Luke 22:15 points to a greater purpose for this final shared meal.  Jesus said “With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer.”

After their meal, Jesus explained to the disciples the symbolism of the Communion elements.  In simple yet profound words Jesus told them the bread represented His body and the fruit of the vine represented His blood.  This was the last time on earth Jesus would eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  But it would not be the last time for the disciples nor for all believers from that day to this.  Jesus was instituting the ordinance of Holy Communion when he said “This do in remembrance of me.”

This ordinance of the church called Holy Communion is also known as the Lord’s Supper.  Its purpose is to remember the Lord’s death and resurrection until He returns.  It is a time of reverence and self-examination that offers Christians an opportunity to strengthen their walk with God.

Christ gave us this ordinance that we might ever be reminded of the blessings that He wants us to enjoy now and through eternity.  Lest we forget.