"In Remembrance of Me"

We’re not always so good at remembering. That’s why our calendars come with printed notes marking national holidays. Even if we know there is a holiday, though, sometimes we lose sight of the original reason, or meaning, for these holidays. For example, the solemnity of Memorial Day is sometimes overshadowed by vacation destinations and barbecues and a welcomed three-day weekend for many.

The Lord knows our tendency to forget and to get sidetracked. So, right before He died, Jesus gave instructions and modeled what we call today the Lord’s Supper, or Communion, so that we would remember His sacrificial death that would bring forgiveness and a way back to the Father in a new and wonderful covenant! The broken bread symbolized His broken body. The cup represented His shed blood. Eat and drink, He said, “in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:24, 25; Luke 22:19).

This official ordinance is meant to be a continued practice, because in so doing, we’re not only reminded of, but we proclaim to others, “the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). The Lord’s Supper not only looks to what Jesus did, it looks forward to what He will do. He has saved us from sin. One day, He will save completely and forever from death, when He gives us His resurrection life for all of eternity and will come to rule and reign in a kingdom of everlasting peace!

Perhaps it is appropriate after all to celebrate life with vacations and picnics on this day that is set aside to honor those who gave up their lives to save ours. But even more so, we can remember and celebrate the unfathomable blessings and provisions that Jesus Christ has so graciously given to us through His matchless sacrifice.