Memorial Day
"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; 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.' In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes." 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NIV)
Most conservative scholars agree that First Corinthians probably was written before any of the gospels. If that is true, Paul’s account here is the first biblical record of the institution of the Lord’s Supper.*
It is also incredible to realize that Paul’s doctrine of the Lord’s Supper did not derive from the church or even from the apostles but that he received it by direct revelation from the Lord Himself (“I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you”, verse 23), which is consistent with the pattern of revelation in the life of Paul (Gal. 1:11-12).
In reflecting upon this passage it occurred to me that we actually know little of what the risen Christ personally spoke to Paul about, but we know for sure that he spoke to him about taking communion. That strikes me as something very significant, and it underscores the fact that the Lord’s Supper is a matter of singular importance to the Lord - and to us. So what is this all about? The Lord’s Supper is multi-faceted, but much of it has to do with remembrance and gratitude.
A Time To Remember We know that “the night he was betrayed” was the first evening of the Passover. The first communion was a Passover meal (Luke 22:15-18). Just like the Passover, the Lord’s Supper was given as a feast of perpetual remembrance for the people of God (Exodus 12:14).
Like the lamb and the blood and the ritual of Passover, every element of the Lord’s Supper is calculated to awaken and stir the sanctified memory. The bread, the wine, and the words we speak all tell the story of the Lamb who died to purchase our deliverance from the power of the enemy. Remembrance is the very heart and soul of the Lord’s Supper.
Thanksgiving is also a crucial element. The historic Greek word for the Lord’s Supper is Eucharist, which literally means “thanks” or, “thanksgiving”. Above all other things, when we participate in communion with a right heart, we are truly thankful.
I cannot help but think of this as we enter this holiday weekend. Memorial Day is a great American tradition. It is a time for relaxation with loved ones and back yard barbecues, but it is also a time to pause in reverent and thankful remembrance. Memorial Day commemorates all of the men and women who died while in military service to the United States. First enacted to honor Union and Confederate soldiers following the American Civil War, it was extended after World War I to honor Americans who have died in all wars. This holiday has been consecrated in our national life to remember with gratitude the sacrifice of those who made it possible for us to live and breathe in the rarified air of freedom. Thank God.
And while we are rightly thanking God for our freedom as Americans, let us also make a special point of remembering our greatest hero, the Lord Jesus Christ; crucified, died, and risen again that we live in ultimate freedom for now and forever. May we never forget, and ever be thankful.
"If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36)
Happy Memorial Day.
* First Corinthians, MacArthur Commentary, Moody, Chicago
(blog posted by Steve Poole, Director of Spiritual Formation, Vision New England.)
