A Sermon (#528) Preached By William “Bill” Touchton
Edited By Michael D. Lawson
Jesus’ ministry of discipling the disciples had come to an end. For three years he had poured himself into these men. He called them, taught, fed, protected them, prayed for them and loved them.
They were closer than his own brothers, and when everyone else deserted Him and went home, these 11 men remained faithful.
They were there when He turned water into wine, took the boy’s lunch and fed 5,000, when he raised Lazarus from the dead, walked on the sea, and calmed the raging sea.
They had gathered a lifetime of memories. Do you think they could have forgotten Him and what He had done?
As they sat down to eat this last meal together, Jesus knew that there was one more thing to be done. He knew he would have to die for their sins and for the sins of the whole world. He would become their passover lamb whose blood would once and for all cover the penalty of sin.
And Jesus wanted to illustrate that sacrifice in such a way that they could remember it every day of their lives.
So as this meal began, He took a loaf of bread, broke it, and said, “this is my body, this do in remembrance of me.” He lifted the cup. “This represents my blood, do this in remembrance of me.”
Moments later they left that room, later he was arrested, beaten, falsely accused, and condemned to die on a cross.
They saw the stripes from the leather whip, the crown of thorns, nails in his hands and feet, the spear pierce his side. The watched as the soldiers gambled for his garment. They heard him say, “It is finished.” They saw him bow his head and give up the ghost.
Do you think they could have ever forgotten that moment? Do you think anyone could have forgotten the significance of that moment?
Yet Jesus said, “Do this…and as often as ye do it, do it in remembrance of me.”
Why would he say that?
Listen. Jesus, who is God, knew that unless we are constantly reminded of what He has done for us, his death would become nothing more than a historical event and not a personal, life-changing event.
You say that would never happen, but think about the passage studied last Sunday night…Israel in bondage with no hope of escape…they prayed. God heard, and sent Moses to lead them out of Egypt.
God told Moses to have each family select a lamb they identified, then killed the lamb, painted the blood on the lentils, and when the death angel came, he passed over the blood.
That day was a day of salvation to be remembered for all time…
Exodus 12.14 – “And this day shall be unto you for a memorial: and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations, and ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.”
God set up a permanent memory aid, and the the children would ask, what does this mean, they shared what God had done. What a wonderful day.
But in just a couple of months, they molded their calf and said, “This is the God that brought us out of Egypt…”
That generation died. A new one came to the Jordan, but before they crossed over, Moses said, they won’t remember this…”Thou were a servant, but God brought you out with a mighty hand.” They crossed over. God worked miracles. they conquered the land, divided it, and settled in. Got busy…and no one remembered.
Judges 2.10 – “There arose a generation…who knew not the Lord…nor the work that He had done for Israel…”
They had forgotten.
You can follow it all they way through the Bible – men’s inability to remember.
Paul sent Timothy…”to bring you into remembrance” (1 Cor. 4.17)
Peter…”I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance…”
We forget.
Why do you think Paul quotes the Lord word for word?
They had forgotten and because of that the people had made a mockery of the Christian life. Because they had forgotten what He had done for us. It is the basis of all that we do. It’s the energy behind our commitment.
Now let me show you what happens when we forget Calvary.
Our worship becomes worthless…
It becomes meaningless instead of meaningful. Routine…habit…it becomes a part of social life…it fills a time slot. Songs are just lyrics…prayers are just words…sermons are just speeches…the Bible, just a book…an invitation is the end of a show. The tithe is a price of a ticket. We come to get instead of give.
Our commitment become compromise…
Could it be that we too forget? Paul said let a man examine himself.