Sermon Central
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Sharing A Memorial Meal
Contributed by Gene Gregory on Aug 11, 2012 (message contributor)
Summary: Sermon covers the items we are reminded of through the Lord's Supper.
SHARING A MEMORIAL MEAL 8 12
A man was working in his backyard one day, when his neighbor began talking to him over the fence. He said, “Yeah. I went to one of those seminars yesterday, you know, where they teach you ways to improve your memory and such.” His neighbor commented, “Really. What was the name of the speaker?” The man answered, “Ah, ah, what’s the name of that flower that smells so good and has thorns?” “You mean a rose?” Yeah, that’s it. Rose, what was the name of that speaker we heard yesterday?
We humans often have a hard time remembering things. My memory has gotten so bad I figure that within a few years I’ll be able to hide my own Easter eggs.
The Lord knows how short our memories are, so throughout the Bible we find Him reminding us of things again and again, and even doing things to help us remember. We have memorial offerings, writings, and tassels. There are rainbows, books, and stacked stones. Jesus used parables and items around Him in those parables, to help people remember what He taught; but in the whole Bible there is no reminder more important or significant than the one He established the night before His crucifixion. It is Communion, the Lord’s Supper, our Memorial Meal. In verse 19 of the passage we just read, Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” The whole meal is a reminder of Him, and the two elements of the meal remind us of two important things about Him.
I. THE BREAD REMINDS US OF THE COST OF SIN
The first item of our memorial meal is the bread. In verse 19, Jesus says, “This is My Body which is given for you.”
> Isaiah 53:5-6 But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds. 6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished Him for the iniquity of us all.
Why did Jesus die? Why did He undergo the suffering and all that He endured while here on earth? He did so because there is a thing called sin and sin has a price. Then He gave us a memorial meal to remember that.
The bread reminds us of the cost of sin.
This past week many across our country were surprised by the turn out at Chick-fil-a. I imagine that the majority of you have seen the pictures. Someone sent me a post that showed 45 different pictures of Chick-fil-a restaurants this past Wednesday. There were pictures of lines of cars wrapped around blocks, of people lined up outside the doors of the restaurants; all trying to get in and show their support for the company because the owner said he supported traditional marriage and some folks wanted to boycott.
I didn’t go Wednesday, but went Thursday to the store in Orange City and the cars still stretched onto Saxon Blvd.
Since then, the news media and social networks have had a great deal to say about what took place that day. I had some folks try to take me to task for my stand and for my beliefs. There are several things we need to take away from this however, regardless of people’s opinions and in spite of what may be popular at the time.
We need to remember that there is such a thing as right and wrong. Look it wasn’t for no reason that Jesus came to earth and endured all of the stuff He went through.
Jesus is the Creator of the Universe and of all there is. He is the Son of God. He is the One the angels sing praises to. This Jesus walked to hallowed halls of heaven. This Jesus left the ease, the glory and splendor of heaven; and came to earth, not because He wanted to take a trip. Not because He wanted to get out of the palace and slum for a while. Not because He was lonely and wanted to make some new friends. Jesus left heaven and all that entails; He left the very place we all hope to reach one day because there is such a thing as sin. There is such a thing as right and wrong.
Yes, homosexuality is wrong. It is a sin. The Bible makes that perfectly clear, regardless of what people claim, regardless of what they say, feel think, or anything else. It is wrong and it is a sin. But that is not the only sin the Bible mentions.
Before we get too proud, let’s admit that we can often see ourselves mentioned in these very same lists. Yes, homosexuality is a sin, or acting upon that temptation is a sin; but so is lying, and many of our politicians do that every day. Sadly, so do many of our business folks. So is gluttony. So is gossip. So is adultery. So is pride. Listen, we better never reach the point where we think we are better than other folks, simply because we are not guilty of their particular sin.
