“This is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me…This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of Me.” 1 Corinthians 11:24,25
There are many things that the disciple of Christ must forget if he would follow Christ. These things usually pertain to his past, things which bring shame and dishonor to Christ, failures and sins. There are other things which in and of themselves are to be forgotten for they were, and are, distractions, entanglements, and weights, which do not contribute at all to the race set before the believer. But there is one thing that must never be forgotten. In fact, it should be remembered regularly every day, and cultivated in the mind and heart. It is revealed to us in the Lord’s words, words that are ever so simple and true, but which have resoundingly, eternal effects and meaning in the individual lives of men. That thought or vision which must not be forgotten, is the vision of Christ Himself, particularly with regard to when He spoke to his disciples at the last supper, and afterwards, as he suffered and died on the cross. Through the prophet’s writings, and in the gospels, the revelation of God in Christ to all men is to be remembered, never forgotten. Why?
Jesus’ words at the last supper that night, called upon the disciples to remember him for a purpose. His words, full of meaning, revealed the sovereign will of God concerning this Lamb of God, without blemish, foreordained to shed his blood for the salvation of all men, and this before the foundation of the world. (1 Peter 1:18,19) So, here He stands before the disciples just before His betrayal, trial, crucifixion, and death. What more does He desire that men should know and grasp, and remember of Him? The answer lies in the symbols of the last supper, the bread and the cup. He will speak to the disciples of His broken body, symbolized by the broken bread, one to be sacrificed for them. Here the eternal God is revealing the eternal love of the Father for these men, and all men, a love which passes understanding, and one that MUST be remembered. It was because of love that God gave his Son to die on a cross in the place of sinful men. It was for love that the Son accepted the terrible, tragic, and treacherous mission, of yielding Himself up voluntarily to become sin for all men, that they might be forgiven of their sins, and be declared righteousness by His perfect life, in His blood. That love would be demonstrated, and proved to lost men, in Christ’s broken body, and shed blood, so that unthankful, rebellious men, could be saved from the wrath to come.
Then there was the cup, a container that would speak of two things. The first would be that measure of suffering that Jesus would voluntarily accept, and embrace, for all men. This is expressed so clearly in a great hymn: “Death, and the curse, were in our cup, O Christ, ’twas full for Thee! But Thou hast drained the last dark drop, ‘Tis empty now for me. That bitter cup, love drank it up; Now blessings’ draught for me.”
The second thing that the cup would signify would be a covenant of God, established, and ratified, by the blood of Christ. Indeed, the covenant was in Christ’s shed blood. What is that covenant? It is that witness, testament, and absolute commitment of God to men, that Christ’s blood is powerful, and effective, and certain to wash away all sin in the eyes of God, because of its worth to the Father. Christ’s perfect righteous life, revealed in His blood, would declare that lost men could be justified, accepted before God in peace, if there is faith in Christ alone.
The call of Christ to the disciples, and to us, is to remember Him, never forgetting the love of God demonstrated in such painful, and incomprehensible detail on Calvary.
Dear Father. Strengthen us to remember. In Jesus’ name, Amen.