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REMEMBER JESUS
~Matthew 26: 26-29; 1 Corintians 11: 23-25~
In-person service at
Second Baptist Church
2412 Griffith Ave.
Los Angeles
Dr. Ernest Young, Associate Minister
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Almighty God, we come to Thee at this time with thanks for who you are. As we worship Thee we are grateful for your love for us as you sent your son Jesus, who sacrificed His life for our salvation. We are thankful for His commandment to the disciples (and us) to remember this sacrifice and to love one another. As we remember the Last Supper, and as we remember the Lord’s Supper, keep us in your care. Amen.
To God be all glory for blessings even now. To Pastor Epps for the privilege to
proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ through the ministries of Second Baptist Church.
The scripture texts are Matthew, chapter 26, verses 26-29 (Matthew 26: 26-29)
and I Corinthians, chapter 11, verses 23-25 (I Corinthians 11: 23-29).
Matthew 26: 26-29
26“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, “This is my body”. 27And he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it. 28For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sin. 29But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.
I Corinthians 11: 23-25
23For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you., that the Lord Jesus the same night he was betrayed took bread: 24And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “Take eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25After 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, in remembrance of me.”
The subject from which to preach: “Remember Jesus.”
Introduction
The celebration of Last Supper (Passover) is significant. Jews today still celebrate the Passover with the Seder meal of herbs, Lamb, unleavened bread, etc. They remember what God did for their fore parents, in their history and culture. The institution of the Lord’s Supper (Communion) is significant. Gentiles throughout the world today still participate in communion (the elements of bread and wine symbolizes the body and blood of Jesus) while remembering what Jesus Christ did for everyone when he laid down his life on the cross to secure our salvation.
Consider the meaning of the significance of the Last Supper a
s a way of remembering Jesus.
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In these texts, Jesus speaks from Jerusalem as He commemorates and celebrates the Passover festival. It is an annual Jewish cultural/religious celebration according to the Jewish calendar. The Passover festival is named to remind them (Israel) of God’s deliverance. When the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, death occurred to those who held them captive. But the Israelites were instructed to mark the door post with the blood of a Lamb without spot or blemish, a perfect Lamb. When God sent the death angel, and the angel saw the blood on the doorpost, death passed over that house, and the lives of those inhabitants were spared. Thus, the Passover festival is a reminder,
a remembrance of what God has done in their history, through their ancestors. (Exodus 12: 1-14)
There are a few observations regarding these sayings of Jesus. In both the gospel text (Matthew) and the Epistle (I Corinthians) we encounter the words Jesus spoke to His disciples (and us) after sharing the Last Supper and the Lord’s Supper.
Consider what it means that the Seder meal represents
the perfect lamb for a sacrifice.
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There are a few observations regarding these sayings of Jesus. In both the gospel text (Matthew) and the Epistle (I Corinthians) we encounter the words Jesus spoke to His disciples (and us) after sharing the Last Supper and the Lord’s Supper.
1. This is my body, take eat. Verse 26
2. This is my blood, Drink all of it. Verses 27-28
3. But…until that day…. Verse 29
- This is My Body
In the first observation, the textual setting is clear, it is the time of the Passover…when… The obvious meaning is that of symbols which were to be reminders to the disciples (and us) of the absent Lord, and memorials of the cost of their (and our) redemption. The New Testament or Covenant was put in force by the death of Jesus. The Old Testament or Covenant given by God to Israel required continual sacrifices for sin. But Jesus’s death provided a perfect sacrifice, and made possible both,
1) justification (just as if we never sinned) and 2) regeneration (new life in Jesus).
Jesus’ death is sufficient in itself to care for the remission (or forgiveness) of sin for every individual. The bread symbolizes Jesus’ body.
Consider what it means that the bread is a symbol of
the body of Jesus broken for you.
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In order for bread to become bread there is an established process to which it must adhere. First, the seed of corn or wheat must be planted in the ground and die to send forth new corn or wheat grains. Then this corn or wheat must be harvested and grinded to be further processed into bread. The corn or wheat must be mixed and baked to rise as bread. You see, it must be broken down and die in order to rise again. Jesus said,
“I am the bread of life, he that cometh to me shall never hunger." John 6: 35a.
As it was with Jesus, He was crucified on the cross at Calvary and died. Then He was placed in a borrowed tomb because He didn’t use it but three days. On the third day
He rose again. Therefore, that evening at the table in the upper room, Jesus said to His disciples, the bread was His body which was about to be broken, because the body of Jesus, which is the bread of life, died and was placed in the tomb and rose up saying “all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." (Matthew 28: 18).
Consider what it means that the fruit of the vine is a symbol
of the blood of Jesus shed for our salvation.
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2. This is My Blood
The second observation, let us look at the blood. In this context, the fruit of the vine or wine symbolizes the blood. Thus, in order for the fruit to become wine, like bread, there is also a process. The fruit seeds must be planted in the ground and die, and be harvested. Then the fruit must be harvested, bruised, and pierced to release the contents therein. Jesus was beaten and “wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed”. (Isaiah 53: 5 & 10) And because of his blood we are cleaned from all ungodly deeds.
Blood, by definition, is a connective tissue. It connects the blood from the heart in humans and animals to the arteries and veins throughout the body, Blood is the essence of life. As a blood donor, I was advised by the health care professionals that there are different types of blood, i.e. A+(positive), B+(positive), AB+(positive), and O+(positive). There are also negatives. The O+(positive) is what is known as a universal donor. It means that individual can donate blood to any of the other types and the one who received can live. There is something that is mysterious about blood especially Jesus’ blood.
- There is cleansing in that blood.
- There is comfort in that blood
- There is healing in that blood
- There is strength in the blood
- There is power in the blood
- Yes, there is power, power in the blood of Jesus
- Anointing power
- Faith forming power
- Love lifting power
- Joy bringing power
- Soul reviving power
When we look at Jesus’ blood the irony is such that we can become baffled with the words of Andrea Crouch:
The blood that Jesus shed for me
Way back on Calvary
The blood that gives me strength from day to day
It will never lose its power.
It reaches the highest mountain
It flows to the lowest valley,
The blood that gives me strength from day to day
It will never lose its power.
Also, William Cowper’s message:
There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel’s veins,
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, Lose all their guilty stains,
And sinners plunged beneath that flood Lose all their guilty stains.
Consider what it means that Jesus has an impact on your life.
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3. But… Until That Day… verse 29
The third observation: then Jesus said, “But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom”. This statement directed the gaze of the disciples ahead to the Father’s kingdom. This was futuristic language. They were beginning to look forward to a time of joy and fellowship at the great marriage supper. The hymns according to the Passover messages, would have been a portion of the Hallel Psalms (Psalms 15-18). The Psalms such as, “I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications" and “O praise the Lord, all ye nations praise Him all ye people.”
Also, “O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, because His mercy endures.”
Therefore, I am so glad His mercy didn’t run out before it reached out to us.
As the body and blood of lambs had been sacrificed that was instrumental in accomplishing the redemption from Egypt, Jesus would be the sacrifice that would affect redemption under the new covenant. Therefore, we should always remember Jesus! Thus, Jesus said, “until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
- Until that day when love will abide over all the World.
- Until that day when wars will cease, and we will study war no more.
- Until that day when Peace will rule and reign in the World.
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Until that day, a new day, when we can join Amos and make real his prophecy, “Let justice run down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream."
Amos 5: 24.
- Until that day when crime, death, envy, and hate will be no more.
- Until that day when we sit at the Welcome Table with Jesus!
There will be room for all, all of God’s children.
Jews and Gentiles, just all of God’s children,
Just all of God’s children gathered together.
Then we will go out sight-seeing in Beulah,
We’ll march all around the Altar,
We’ll sing and never become tired,
We’ll fly and never falter,
And what a time, What a time, WHAT A TIME!
When we see and share the communion table with Jesus!
Consider what it means to remember Jesus until He comes.
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Conclusion
Yes, thank God for Jesus!
J E S U S!
Just Eternal Savior Universal Salvation
- He broke into human history.
- He’s Mary’s baby and God’s beloved Son!
- He was born in Bethlehem to an unwed mother,
- He was smuggled out of Judea in Israel to Egypt in Africa because King Herod was threatened that a new King was in town.
- He’s the son of David, the seed of Abraham, a storm hewed out of the mountain, a meek and humble Lamb.
- He walked the sea of Galilee.
- He’s the balm in Gilead that makes the wounded whole,
- He’s the everlasting Savior that heals the sin sick soul.
- He’s the man I long to see, ooh tell me where is HE?
Well, “Go out and search among the poor, I’m sure you’ll find Him there."
How will I know HIM when I see HIM from any other man?
HE wears Salvation around His head and carries wounded hands.
He walks the streets of Galilee and cause the blind to see.
He went on to Calvary, and out on Calvary He suffered, bled, and died on a cross
And as He was hanging there on the cross for our sins,
We saw life at its lowest, hope at its highest,
Faith at its finest, and fellowship at its fullest.
And to that end, I proclaim, Thomas implied when he doubted;
-If it’s the same Jesus who came down from heaven and brought me Peace,
And went back to heaven and carried my Confusion;
-If it’s the same Jesus who came down from heaven and brought me Grace;
and went back to heaven and carried my Gloom;
-If it’s the same Jesus who came down from heaven and brought me Hope;
and went back to glory and carried my Despair.
-If it’s the same Jesus who came down from heaven and brought me Love;
and went back to glory and carried my Hate.
-If it’s the same Jesus who came down from heaven and brought me Joy;
and went back to glory and carried my sorrow,
You will find hands filled with justice and righteousness willingly doing God’s will.
He clears out our Temple and our empty lives He fills our hearts with gladness,
He takes away madness and sadness.
May we always remember Jesus. Remember to love, praise, serve and worship Him.
Consider what it means to remember Jesus.
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