Weekly Devotional 9-14-15 A Proper Memorial Service
During the last meal that Jesus would share with His apostles He instituted a memorial that was to be observed by all Christians until He is physically with us again. We read from Luke 22:14-20 (NKJV), “14When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. 15Then He said to them, ‘With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’ 17Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, ‘Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ 19And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ 20Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.’” From Matthew’s account of this instituted memorial we read concerning the cup, “Drink ye all of it; For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:27b-28 NKJV).
Christians all over the world are to periodically remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and what was accomplished by that sacrifice. These are to be special times when Christians are to recall what Jesus endured for them, for us. The Apostle Paul, addressing the sacredness of this memorial, was moved to chastise the Corinthians for their trivialization of it. We read, “17Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 20Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 21For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you. 23For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ 25In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 27Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.33Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come. 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 (NKJV).
What was Paul’s instruction? Was it not that these Corinthians were to have a proper focus about the “Lord’s supper”? That its purpose wasn’t to come together to gorge themselves with food. If they were hungry they were to eat at home and then come, break bread and drink the cup of memorial. Paul’s order of service seems correct as the Lord didn’t give the bread or the cup until after the meal had been eaten. He waited until the hunger of the apostles was satisfied before He instituted the memorial. Why did He not institute this memorial during the meal? Was it not that He wanted their focus to be on what He was soon to suffer rather than on their physical satisfaction? Wasn’t this Paul’s intention?
Lord, help each of us to properly remember from whence comes our salvation and its cost to You.
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