5/30/11 Luke 22:14-20 Remembrance

¹⁴ When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. ¹⁵ And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶ For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
¹⁷ After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. ¹⁸ For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
¹⁹ And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
²⁰ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

(Greek icon- Last Supper)

Thoughts: God is concerned that we remember Him and His mighty acts of deliverance on our behalf. The very nature of the Passover that Jesus was celebrating was to remember God's deliverance (Ex. 12; Lev. 23; Dt. 16:1-8).  Jesus was identified as the Passover Lamb (John 1:29; 1 Cor. 5:7). Jesus, the Passover Lamb, wanted his people to remember Him as well when they took part in the Lord's Supper.
On Memorial Day weekend, we stop to remember what is most important. We have many blessings.  We have freedom to worship God as we please. 

Prayer: Help me, Lord, to remember you- The Great Delverer- our Savior.  Help me not to take you for ganted, or to forget you.

John Calvin Abridged: Christ intended to place His death before them as in a mirror.  Since Christ was to die [and be remembered] and go to heaven, we are to direct our thoughts toward both the cross, the resurrection, and heaven.