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

Open your bibles to Isaiah, chapter 53. I was reading up on diseases, plagues, pandemics that date back over one hundred years. I was curious about how people responded during these horrible times without the medical advances and knowledge we have today.

Umberto Rainerio Carlo Emanuele Giovanni Maria Ferdinando Eugenio di Savoia; 14 March 1844 – 29 July 1900), nicknamed “The Good”

I found a news clipping that piqued my interest about an epidemic in Italy in 1884. It gives us the inside story of how a king of Italy responded to the crisis in his country on September 10th, 1884. The news clip reads:

Isaiah 53:3 reads, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

Jesus Christ was The King, who left his heavenly throne, and walked among the sick and dying; and I am not just referring to physical sickness and death, but more importantly spiritual sickness and death. He stepped away from his heavenly throne and became a man. He came from his kingdom, and He passed unrecognized through the streets of Israel and reached out with His love.

Now, as far as earthly kingdoms, people have often offered their lives to save kings. This earthly king did the opposite for the people of Naples. Our heavenly King, our Savior offered His life to save a world that despised Him. Nevertheless, God sent his only begotten son to save us, physically and spiritually. Once you put your trust and confidence in him, and what He has done for you by his redemptive work, you are spiritually healed. You will not be judged in the judgment seat of Christ for salvation – that is certain! Because Christ’s blood paid the price for your eternal salvation if you put your trust in Him and what He did. He became a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, and we hid as it were our faces from him. He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

While he was here, walking on this planet, he loved, and he served many in Israel. But even though He did all that, plus promising eternal life, the religious authorities of His day did not accept Him. The religious powers despised him, and they eventually killed him, they murdered him.

Here you see an example in history of an earthly king’s concern for the people of his country that was suffering dearly of this cholera epidemic. And as I previously said: They did not have western medicine like we have now, today. It was a severe and dangerous disease. This king put his life at risk; how much more our heavenly King has done for us. Because no matter what this earthly king did, and it is to be admired, he still could not heal them spiritually. He could not provide for them eternal life. All he did in this situation was to provide some comfort, some extra hands on the ground; and that’s to be admired.

Our heavenly Father sent his only begotten son, who willingly went to that cross to die for us, to give us eternal hope that no matter what happens to this body, we have a promise of a new one in the future. This temporary existence is not the end. We are just starting, friends. We will not just disappear; we will not just die off – we continue because what He did for us.

How you will continue is determined by how you will receive Jesus. Are you going to reject him? Are you going to despise him? Or are you going to recognize who He is, and what He did? He did it for everyone. And it is a shame, so few have looked unto Him for salvation. Now, many have looked upon their works, thinking about what they must do to be allowed entrance into heaven. Works do not cut it; they are no more than filthy rags if you are doing those works assuming they will provide you with salvation. Now there is provision for doing good works, but that is for rewards – Not salvation! It is all about what Jesus has done. Only trusting in His finished works will get you in.

I am going to be 62 soon, and looking back, I wished I would have recognized earlier the importance of remembering Him, daily! Scripture says to remember Him as often as you eat and drink, not just on Sundays once a month. To remember Him daily and what he has done for us. Thank Jesus for His amazing grace, His amazing love, His amazing mercy, He is amazing. He is wonderful. He is to be adored, He is to be worshiped, because He is our King; the one that has provided salvation. He just did not leave us dying spiritually, he provided the way to eternal life.

Faith Cometh By Hearing at www.TeachingFaith.com

Someday we will all meet, I am sure of that whether in the heavenly space, or in the new earth, we will all meet and rejoice together what a wonderful savior that we love and serve. But until that time, we can remember him together around this world tonight. We are lifting our thanks and adoration, to the King of kings that saved wretches like us.

Thank you, Jesus, for your wonderful mercy, grace, and love. Tonight, we remember you, and what you have done for us. Take these elements in remembrance of Him. Thank you, Jesus.