John Whitecross, in his work The Shorter Catechism Illustrated, tells the story of a converted Greenlander who, “rather than be absent from the missionary settlement when the Lord’s Supper was to be administered, rowed the whole night in his kayak with the animal in tow…” When asked about his exertion he said, “How could I stay where I was? My soul hungers and thirsts after the Lord and His communion.” That kind of fervency for the Lord’s Table might appear strange to many, especially in a day when many undervalue the precious responsibility of being committed to a local church. But one of the reasons why regular participation in a local church is essential is because the Lord expects His people to participate in the Lord’s Supper. We ought not miss the imperative that Paul recalled: Jesus said, “do this in remembrance of Me” (1 Cor. 11:24b). That wasn’t a suggestion; it was a command.
Category: Lord’s Supper (Page 2 of 2)
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which 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.” (1 Cor. 11:23,24)
As Paul continued to remind the Corinthians about the origin of the Lord’s Supper, he moved from the backdrop of treachery (1 Cor. 11:23a) to the historical inception of this ongoing ordinance. He said that Jesus took bread. This, in itself, was a part of the Passover tradition that occurred after the second cup of wine was poured and passed.
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which 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.” (1 Cor. 11:23,24)
Now these words were not found in the midst of a manual on church order. No, instead they were found essentially in the middle of a weighty rebuke to the Corinthian church for their blatant disregard for the Lord’s Supper. Instead of demonstrating Christ-centered unity, their love feasts – the meal which comprised the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper – manifested division (1 Cor. 11:18b), selfishness (vs.21a), insensitivity (cf. vs.21b), and drunkenness (vs.21c). They had essentially and practically forgotten the purpose for which Jesus instituted this ordinance. So here, in the midst of a rebuke, Paul reminded them.
The Importance of Remembrance
Why are wedding anniversaries important? Well, although I cannot appeal to a chapter-and-verse of Scripture to set that record straight once and for all I can provide an opinion that I think most would agree with, one that goes beyond simply saying – so we don’t forget when it happened. I would commend the celebrating of wedding anniversaries as a way to remember, not simply an occasion, but the affections you felt on that occasion. That kind of remembering has a way of rekindling – it helps you feel fresh affections as you recall old ones through current lenses.
