Worship and remembrance are closely connected in my mind. It might be worthwhile to spend a few moments thinking about them.
1 Corinthians 11:23–24 come to mind when we talk about remembrance. The Lord's supper was a matter of special revelation to Paul (v. 23), suggesting some importance in the mind of God. He quotes the Lord as saying, "this do in remembrance of me" (v. 24).
The sign on the outside of the meeting hall advertises that "The Remembrance" is at 11:00 AM Sundays. That's an appropriate name.
We sometimes talk about worship in connection with the Lord's supper, but I don't think Scripture does.
We worship the Lord Jesus because He is eternal God, "God over all, blessed forever" (Romans 9:5). We worship Him because all things were made by Him (John 1:3). It was the Son who laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the works of His hands (Psalm 102:25).
But when He calls us to remember, we see what might be a deeper truth. The Son who created us, came here to die for us. It's not simply the Creator-creature relationship, it's the Redeemer-redeemed relationship.
We remember that He poured out His soul unto death for us (Isaiah 53:12). We remember that He bore our sins in His own body on the tree (1 Peter 2:24). We remember that He was made sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), that His soul was made an offering for sin (Isaiah 53:10).
These things ought to touch our hearts.
4 comments:
"These things ought to touch our hearts." Yes, indeed, to the very core of who we are.
"We remember..."
Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood,
and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father;
to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
(Revelation 1:5-6)
Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you.
(John 15:3)
For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;
that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
(2 Corinthians 5:21)
"We remember..." And can truthfully confess:
We are clean by the blood of Jesus.
We are clean by the Word which He has spoken unto us.
We are the righteousness of God in Him.
Mark
Thank you for these thoughts.
In 1 Corinthians 10 the Lord's table is linked to communion. In 1 Corinthians 11 the Lord's supper is linked to remembrance. Remembrance comes out of communion. The table is spread for us seven days in the week. The remembrance may take an hour of our week. The table represents God bringing Christ to us. The supper is where bring Christ to God. The remembrance takes us back to places and events that will never be repeated in the experience of Christ: Bethlehem, Egypt, Nazareth, Jordan, the wilderness, Gethsemane, Calvary, Bethany. They have gone into the past of history but remain ever present through our remembrance. And as we remember Him, we are drawn out to further appreciation and worship and look forward to His coming again.
"Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me". Lamentations 3: 19,20
This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope.
It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.
The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him.
The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him.
(Lamentations 3:21-25)
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)
Robert well said: "And as we remember Him, we are drawn out to further appreciation and worship and look forward to His coming again."
And we become ever more aware, and bear witness of, His presence in us NOW.
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have of God, and ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart. (Psalm 119:111)
Amen! May our hearts become more and more acquainted with Him!
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