A Call to Remember ~ Luke 22:14-20

Good morning and welcome to the Panhandle. Today I am doing something a little different. Every 5^th Sunday we celebrate the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. I think we have to be careful when we take the Lord's Supper that it doesn't loose it's meaning. So many times people come to church and “do church” without really being in God's presence. You know they go through the motions, they sing all the right words and the even open their bible, but in reality they are not really there. Oh yes, physically they are there, but their mind and heart are some where else. I know of what I speak because it has happened to me. But back to the Lord's Supper, if there is ever a time we need to be totally focused on God and the service this is the time. Why do I say that? Because it is the time when we come together for a special time to remember what Christ Jesus did for us.

So come on in, make yourself comfortable, and let's dive into God's Word. Today we are in Luke 22:14-20.

Many people give engraved items in honor of a special day or shared moment. If you have received such a gift, you know what a treasure it can become. People like to remember happy times and significant events. Memories are precious; they keep us connected to people, places, and events that have shaped us and influenced our lives. We may wish we could forget some things, but even life's unpleasant events can offer lasting lessons learned through adversity.

At the Last Supper Christ Jesus led His disciples in the ancient observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, or Passover. Ever the Master Teacher, Christ Jesus used this opportunity to share an important memory with His disciples as they gathered in that upper room. Christ Jesus shared this meal for their benefit and for ours. As He raised the bread and the cup in thanksgiving, Christ Jesus added new significance to this ancient ritual. Luke 22 records that Christ Jesus told His disciples to observe the Passover "in remembrance of me."

Christ Jesus took an ancient feast full of symbols and filled it with new meaning. The meaning of Christ Jesus' words and actions are rooted in His command to remember. As followers of Christ Jesus, we observe the Lord's Supper in remembrance of Him. Some congregations refer to this ordinance as the Memorial Supper to highlight the significance of Christ's atoning work on the cross and to call believers to remember His sacrificial death. Others call it Communion to highlight the believer's intimacy with Him. What we call it is not near as important as realizing that this is a time to remember. To remember Christ Jesus and what He has done for us. To that end I want us to look at three things significant about the Lord's Supper.

Luke 22:14-19

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 of 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."

The first is the historical significance.

1. Historical Significance

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is the historical background for the establishment of the Lord's Supper.

Exodus 12 presents the final chapter in God's miraculous rescue of Israel from slavery in Egypt: the plague of judgment of the firstborn. For the angel of death to pass over a household, a family had to put blood from a sacrificed lamb on the door frame of their house and eat the Passover meal as the Lord had prescribed. This lamb and the meal of unleavened bread became the abiding symbol of Israel's deliverance from bondage.

As His disciples watched Christ Jesus and listened to His words this Passover, they would have understood the historical significance of His actions. What they did not fully understand until after the crucifixion and resurrection, however, was the transformation of what had always been a Jewish feast. A feast used to remember how God delivered them from bondage would now be used to remember Christ Jesus' atoning sacrifice.

The battleship USS Missouri, is now anchored off Ford Island in Pearl Harbor. But it hasn't always been so. The “Mighty Mo” was active in WWII and again in the Korean War. One of the crowning achievements in the “Mighty Mo's” career was the acceptance of the unconditional surrender of the empire of Japan on September 2, 1945 on her deck by General Douglas MacArthur. This historic event ended the hostilities of World War II in the Pacific theater. To help remember this significant event there is a circular plaque embedded in the “Mighty Mo's” deck.

The signing of the surrender happened some 76 years ago, but the events symbolized by it has shaped the world into which we were born and in which we now live. An event that happened almost 76 years ago still has significance. We still enjoy the freedoms secured by the heroic service of our parents and grandparents.

God, who acted in history to deliver His people Israel has also acted in history to deliver us. The elements used here this morning are not the real body and blood of Christ Jesus but they are powerful symbols that cause us to remember that He really did suffer and die in a real, historical time and place.

Always remember what Christ Jesus did on the cross centuries ago still impacts my life and your life today and for eternity.

Now let's take a look at the redemptive significance of the Lord's Supper.

2. Redemptive Significance

When we observe the Lord's Supper's we need to remember the redemptive significance. What do I mean by the redemptive significance? When John the Baptist saw Jesus approaching, he cried out, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29). John clearly established the reason for Christ Jesus' coming: He is the fulfillment of what the Passover lamb had only foreshadowed, He is our redemption.

In Exodus 12, the lamb was sacrificed for the deliverance of one family; at the cross, the Lamb of God was sacrificed to deliver the whole world from the power and penalty of sin. The Passover lamb served as the substitute for the firstborn of Israel, but Christ Jesus, firstborn and God/man; was our substitute at Calvary. Without the death of the lamb and the spreading of its blood, the children of Israel would have suffered the judgment of God. Without the shedding of the blood of Christ Jesus and His substitutionary death, we would have no hope of salvation.

It was May 21, 1946. The place - Los Alamos. A young and daring scientist was carrying out a necessary experiment in preparation for the atomic test to be conducted in the waters of the South Pacific at Bikini. He had successfully performed such an experiment many times before. In his effort to determine the amount of U-235 necessary for a chain reaction--scientists call it the critical mass--he would push two hemispheres of uranium together. Then, just as the mass became critical, he would push them apart with his screwdriver, thus instantly stopping the chain reaction. But that day, just as the material became critical, the screwdriver slipped! The hemispheres of uranium came too close together. Instantly the room was filled with a dazzling bluish haze. Young Louis Slotin, instead of ducking and thereby possibly saving himself, tore the two hemispheres apart with his hands and thus interrupted the chain reaction.

"By this instant, self-forgetful daring, he saved the lives of the seven other persons in the room. . . (A)s he waited. . for the car that was to take him to the hospital, he said quietly to his companion, 'You'll come through all right. But I haven't the faintest chance myself' It was only too true. Nine days later he died in agony.

"Nineteen centuries ago the Son of the living God walked directly into sin's most concentrated radiation, allowed Himself to be touched by its curse, and let it take His life . . . But by that act He broke the chain reaction. He broke the power of sin. George Vandeman, Planet In Rebellion.

People have many ideas about who Christ Jesus is and why He came to earth. They say He is a good man with good moral teachings. They say He is just a prophet in a long line of prophets. But Christ Jesus said Himself that He "came to seek and to save what was lost" (Luke 19:10). When we gather around the Lord's table, the elements speak to us of His sacrifice, His substitution, and our salvation. We celebrate our redemption in remembrance of Him. Do you know Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour today? Have you experienced His redeeming love?

We have looked at the historical significance and redemptive significance of the Lord's Supper. Now let's look at the personal significance of the Lord's Supper.

3. Personal Significance

When we take the Lord's Supper we usually do so corporately, but remember there is also a personal significance. Luke 22:19-20 record Christ Jesus' words: "This is my body given for you. . . . This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."

Christ Jesus personalizes His statements by using the pronoun you. He told His disciples that He was going to suffer for them. He was going to die for them. Yes, Christ Jesus would die for everyone, for "the sin of the world"; but His disciples heard Him say, "I am doing this for you!" and so should you.

Junk mail it's addressed to occupant or resident, and if the envelope does have your name, it usually is a computer-generated label that may or may not have your name spelled correctly. In short, it's not personal. And if you are like me and Gayla that mail usually ends up in the trash unopened.

If, however, you get a piece of mail with your name handwritten or typed, or if you recognize the return address, then you know that someone has written you personally. You generally open that kind of mail first, and it is almost always a source of pleasure. Personal mail shows that someone has taken time to communicate with just you.

Observing the Lord's Supper carries personal significance because Christ Jesus calls you to remember that He gave His body "for you."

It also carries personal responsibility for you to participate in the Lord's Supper with reverence, humility, and sincerity, understanding and proclaiming Christ's great act of love. Paul said that our observance of the Lord's Supper is to be done to help us to remember Christ Jesus. May we never forget, that Christ Jesus (God/man) is a historical figure who came to redeem each one of us personally from our sins.

Well thanks for dropping by and I pray this study shows the importance of remembering what Christ Jesus did for us so long ago. I pray the Lord will mightily bless you and yours.

Biblesurfer

Based on a sermon by Jerry Winfield