Next week on Monday our nation will be celebrating Memorial Day in remembrance of all who have died in American wars throughout our history. Originally it was called Decoration Day, when the graves of dead soldiers were decorated to remember the sacrifice they made for their country. It is truly fitting to remember those who gave their lives in defense of our nation, to ensure freedom for its citizens.
“Words from Above” in the Bible tell us that long before Memorial Day began to officially be observed, Jesus instituted the observance of what is normally called The Lord’s Supper or Last Supper. It all began on the night Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples He had chosen originally to follow Him. It occurred following the last meal that Jesus ate with His disciples prior to His crucifixion.
The apostle Paul writes about in I Corinthians 11, where he said that Jesus took bread in His hand, gave thanks for it, and then broke it to be divided among the disciples. He then explained that the bread represented His body, which was about to be broken for them, and by that He meant that it would be broken on the Cross. He instructed them to break bread in the same way in remembrance of Him and what He was about to experience on the Cross.
Paul then said that Jesus also took a cup and said that it represented the new testament, or new covenant, in His blood. Like in the breaking of the bread, the drinking of the cup would be done in remembrance of Him shedding His blood on the Cross. Jesus intended for the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the cup to be a demonstration of what Jesus was about to do on the Cross.
Paul went on to talk about eating the bread and drinking the cup of the Lord unworthily. He pointed out that anyone eating and drinking unworthily would make that person guilty of shedding the blood of Jesus. He said that in order to prevent that from happening, a person should examine himself before eating and drinking the bread and the cup. Paul was concerned that a person might bring condemnation to himself because he did not properly discern what the Lord had done. He finally pointed out that if we would each judge ourselves, we would not have to be judged by God. Of course, when others judge us, they are not always correct in their judgments because they do not really and truly know our hearts as God knows them. We must never forget what Jesus did for us.
Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville. Everyone is welcome to attend. For informa-tion, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.
