"Who Could Forget?" - Communion (May 2021)

If you would like to go ahead and unwrap your elements, I’ll be giving instructions shortly.

The Communion Supper, instituted by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a sacrament, which proclaims His life, His sufferings, His sacrificial death, and resurrection, and the hope of His coming again. It shows forth the Lord’s death until His return.

The Supper is a means of grace in which Christ is present by the Spirit. It is to be received in reverent appreciation and gratefulness for the work of Christ.

All those who are truly repentant, forsaking their sins, and believing in Christ for salvation are invited to participate in the death and resurrection of Christ. We come to the table that we may be renewed in life and salvation and be made one by the Spirit.

In unity with the Church, we confess our faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

On the night in which He was betrayed, He took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, gave it to His disciples, and said: “This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

Likewise, when the supper was over, He took the cup, gave thanks, gave it to His disciples, and said: “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in remembrance of me.”

And Jesus’ words here have always bugged me…I mean, who could forget Jesus! Especially if you’re one of His disciples. These were the guys who had heard his greatest sermons and seen his greatest miracles.

There’s no way that they would ever forget that, right?

But maybe Jesus is saying something more...

What is it truly that he urging the disciples to remember?

He wanted them to remember the sacrifice, the blood that would be spilled, the death of the righteous king for the forgiveness of all - They ate the bread to remember that his body which was broken, and the wine his blood that was spilled.

He wanted them to remember the sacrifice that was to come.

But he also wanted them to remember, that by being his followers, by eating of the bread and drinking of the cup, by participating in this act of gratitude and remembrance, they could no longer be passive observers. They couldn’t just stand on the side lines. But instead, by sitting at the table and eating and drinking of the cup offered by Jesus, they were agreeing to be apart of the mission that he was doing. By breaking the bread along with him and taking his cup, they said: I’m In...

And Christ wanted them to remember that moment…the moment they bought into the spilled blood and they bought in to the broken body and the life-bringing power of Christ.

Sitting at the table of the Lord’s Supper this morning we are to remember much of the same. The reason you hold the cup and the bread in your hands this morning is because you realize that there is power in this man named Jesus. You realize that his death meant something, both for your and for the world. You are holding the cup, because you, like the disciples are saying, “I’m not going to sit on the sidelines. I’m not just going to be a passive observer to the work that Christ is doing. I’m not just going to sit on my hands but instead… I want to be a part. I’m all in. I’m ready.

And so…The bread is The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, broken for you, preserve you blameless, unto everlasting life. Eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and be thankful.

The cup is The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, shed for you, preserve you blameless unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and be thankful.