Open your Bibles to Acts 1:9 in the New Testament. In the earlier verses, Jesus gave his parting comments before He ascended into the heavens and the promise that the Holy Spirit will come.

“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” He just went up and disappeared into the clouds.

“And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven…” Let’s face it; I probably would have done the same thing. I guess if you put flesh and blood on it you would have too. “And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?“ [“Jesus already told you. He gave you instructions and told you what to expect. Why are you still here gazing up?”] This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

We have too many gazers in the Christian world, not just looking up but looking all around for His return. There is nothing wrong with looking for His return. I teach we should get ready for it and get others prepared for it. I expect it even in my lifetime. If not, I’m reasonably sure it will be shortly after that, in the meantime, we have work to do. We have the Commission to fulfill. We have too many gazers and not enough people in the front lines. Announcing not only what Jesus did, but what is about to happen that will catch this world unprepared for an event of all events—His return. While we are actively waiting for His return let us keep remembering, and announcing what He did while He was here.

I Corinthians 11:24, “And when he had given thanks, he brake it [scratch out it], and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me” [circle remembrance].

After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it [scratch out it], in remembrance [ circle remembrance again] of me.”

Remembrance. What He did for us. If you have listened to any of the communion messages, you already know the benefits we received when He spilled His blood and broke His body in our behalf to take on the sin of the world—the unblemished lamb—which was prophesied for centuries upon centuries before His arrival. It is noticeably clear what the Greek word remembrance means. It is a memorial. A memorial of what? It is the memory of the greatest sacrifice of God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. He sacrificed His own life. He experienced death, but He also resurrected, so it is the memory of the greatest sacrifice, death, and resurrection. Well, there is something else too. It is a memorial or a memory also of His return, so we have the death, the resurrection, and the return. It is trinity all within itself, a memorial of His death, resurrection, and His return. “Where do you get that from?”

Verse 26, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show [or ye announce in the Greek] the Lord’s death till he come.”

So, it is a memorial of His death (I will have more to say about it in a minute) His resurrection and His return. There are three things we remember at this table: not just the death and resurrection, but His return. If you don’t believe in His return, why even believe the first two. The Greek word death in the above verse is clear. There are two possible definitions; a physical death which most people only remember, but also death to sin. If you think about it, it is the greatest memorial that benefits mankind. The memory of the greatest thing that ever happened to humanity—the death, a physical death because it had to happen that way—but also the death to sin. It doesn’t mean we are not going to sin any longer. It means even if you are growing in Christ, you are going to find yourself sinning folks. It is the battle between the old man and the new man now governed by the Spirit. He not only died a physical death which was needed—the unblemished perfect sacrifice that was required—but His death also signifies that there was the death to sin. That is why I had you circle remembrance in verses 24 and 25. It is a memorial to His death, which was a death to sin and the resurrection to a new life, and when this is all over, His return which He promised us would happen. If you believe in the first two, why wouldn’t you believe in the last event that is still yet to take place?

Let’s look at the United States of America for an example. We have all kinds of memorials in Washington, DC that are an essential part of our culture. Other countries have their own memorials for different events. Here in the United States of America, we have the Washington Memorial. The Lincoln Memorial, even the Vietnam Memorial. There are others in this United States of America, not just in Washington, DC. Then there are worldwide visual reminders, not only in this country, such as corporate logos. A famous one everyone recognizes is Nike. Everyone has seen the McDonald’s golden arches. Coca-Cola is another typical example. How about Disney, Mickey Mouse’s ears. They are all reminders about what something is, its purpose, and even what the future holds in some cases.

Christians in the New Testament have their reminders or symbols, such as the fish. Another symbol is the dove and the cross. There are also memorials in the Old Testament. How about the rainbow after the flood? That is a memorial. Anyone can see it whether you are a believer or non-believer. Then we have the Ark of the Covenant. How about Jacob’s well. The list could go on and on.

Get the point? Marking something as a memorial is nothing new in society. In the New Testament, the Lord’s Supper is a memorial instituted by God in honor of Jesus Christ when you understand what remembrance means in Greek. The Greek word is anamnesis. God established this memorial in honor of Jesus Christ, who gave His life for us because of our sin.

The Lord’s Supper is not just a memorial; it is a celebration. Jesus Christ did not remain in the grave. He came out! And He is alive. Furthermore, He is not only alive. He is going to return some day and someday soon. Every time we go to the table of the Lord, we proclaim His future return. That is why it says in verse 26, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye announce the Lord’s death [Not just physical death but also the death to sin.] till he come.” We remember His death, but we should also announce to the world as it states here that we have faith and we are confident (pisteuo; the so-be-it faith) that He is alive and we are anticipating His coming again. If that is not something to celebrate, then I don’t know anything we should celebrate for or about.

Too many Christians say, “Where is Jesus? How come He hasn’t come back yet?” They are gazers. They should be announcers and proclaimers. The very act of going to the table of the Lord is announcing that Jesus not only died a physical death and put death to sin, but He is alive. Not only did He come out of the grave, but He also coming back again. It is a celebration, and we should be expecting His return. Therefore, take the elements and proclaim Jesus, we do remember you. We will keep announcing the Gospel. It is as clear as that—a completed Gospel, from the beginning to the end, including what is still yet to come.

We do remember you, Lord, and we do it every time we take part at the table of the Lord by taking this bread and wine, so take it within remembrance of Jesus, our savior.

Joseph Cortes
TeachingFaith.com