Luke 22:14-20 “More Than a Memorial”

You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us.

We are going to take a break this morning from our almost completed study of 1 Peter

to talk about communion, the Lord's Supper,

the sacrament that we are about to celebrate together in just a few minutes.

And one reason for that is that it is Memorial Day weekend.

And what better time than to talk about the most important memorial in our lives, this supper.

In fact, we're going to talk about how it is even more than merely a memorial.

Secondly, we're talking about it this morning because I want to share with you some changes

in our celebration of the Lord's Supper here at Southwood in the future.

As our leaders have considered this over the past months, even years,

and I'm going to do that as we go this morning.

But let's begin with God's Word by reading Luke's account of Jesus' institution of this meal for us.

Jesus here in Luke 22 is nearing His death, right?

He has gathered His disciples with Him to celebrate the Passover feast in the upper room.

He's going to remember the deliverance of God's people out of their bondage in Egypt.

How God fulfilled His covenant promises to His beloved people through the blood of the Lamb on the doorposts

as they made unleavened bread to eat as they left in a hurry.

except this time Jesus wants to bring new rich meaning into the old feast that they know so well

he's going to transform every future celebration listen to what he says to them Luke 22 at verse 14

and when the hour came Jesus reclined at table and the apostles with him and he said to them

I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer for I tell you I will

not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God and he took a cup and when he had given thanks

he said take this and divide it among yourselves for I tell you that from now on I will not drink

of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes and he took bread and when he had given

thanks he broke it and gave it to them saying this is my body which is given for you do this in

remembrance of me and likewise the cup after they had eaten saying this cup that is poured out for

for you is the new covenant in my blood this is God's word let's pray together

father as we give you thanks for this your word and this record of this special last supper we pray

that you would by your spirit help our hearts that as we come to your table it would be more

more than a memorial than a memorial for us that you would minister your grace to us that we would

see our savior clearly that we would rejoice in his love and that our lives would be transformed

we can't do that but you can and so we ask you to do that in Jesus name amen

have you forgotten this week that Jesus died for you because he loves you

my guess is if I if I ran into you say at target and I came up behind you and said hey do you remember

the name of the guy who died on the cross for you because he loves you so much that most of you

could have said yes it was Jesus you did not forget right but let me ask you differently

have you had any moment this week where you felt distant from God

have you had any opportunities to share the the good news of forgiveness in Jesus

that you've neglected have you made any decisions in this past week that were motivated primarily by

self-interest in what you wanted

now those are very different questions aren't they I bet almost every one of us can answer

yes to at least one of those questions if we're being honest because it is one thing to remember

something passively intellectually in your mind the facts are there if you're asked

and it is quite another thing altogether to remember something actively practically in your life

the truth the truth shapes what you do and and this distinction about remembering

is so important in our lives in our relationships with God this is as we've said a a special weekend

where we remember don't we particularly tomorrow on Memorial Day those who have given their lives to

protect us to provide us with freedoms we enjoy in our country to to sacrifice their lives in place of ours

but let me ask you about that is the goal of Memorial Day to be able to answer questions about the U.S. military

correctly on a history test that you might have sometime is that the point you know how many soldiers died in the Civil War

name 30 soldiers from Huntsville that died in World War II

which battle in history has had the most American casualties

to be able to answer those right on a test someday

or

is the goal of Memorial Day to to live in light of the sacrifice that those soldiers made

to to actually feel something different to feel deep gratitude for them

to to to do something different to commit yourself to enjoying and protecting the freedoms they fought for

to to speak differently to honor with your words the soldiers and their families who paid such a high price

which of those remembers them better

let me ask you to think of the difference in remembering intellectually

and remembering actively

just one more way

what does it mean for me to remember my wedding anniversary

19 years coming up on July 3rd

see I remember it's in my notes

got it right

if in when that day comes July 3rd in a little bit over a month

I am alone playing golf

or

hanging out with another woman

and Christy calls me and says

hey sweetheart

do you remember what day our anniversary is

and I respond very quickly

yes indeed I do honey

it's July 3rd that's today

am I remembering

our anniversary

or

does remembering our anniversary mean

renewing that covenant commitment

that I made 19 years ago

before God and these witnesses to one particular woman

doing something to honor her

regardless of the specific day

finding some way

to celebrate and to demonstrate

committed love

to my wife

there's a big difference in those two isn't there

if you don't think there's a big difference

you talk to me or my wife later

there's a big difference

that same difference is there in the Bible

when God talks about

remembering

or forgetting

Derek mentioned some of this earlier

sometimes it can be merely

recalling a fact

to mind

but often

when we see in the Bible

this idea of

remembering

it is much more about

having your entire life

shaped by a reality

having that so at the center of your heart

at the forefront of your mind

that it drives actions

and words

and attitudes

let me give you just a couple

biblical examples

in the book of Judges

God's people keep cycling through

seasons of worshipping him

and then of chasing after

other gods and idols

of the nations around them

and it's described in chapter 8

of Judges as

the people

did not

remember

Yahweh

their God

did they forget his name?

unlikely

we're told the way they forgot

Yahweh

was they intentionally chose

to make

Baal

their God

they listened to his prophets

and followed

his ways

and forgot

did not remember

Yahweh

throughout the Bible

we're told of God

remembering different people

Rachel

Abraham

Jacob

many others

later in the book of Judges

it's Samson

Samson

if you don't remember him

is the guy with the really long hair

and big muscles

right?

except his long hair

gets cut off

Samson is well aware

that God has not

forgotten who he is

God has removed his strength

from him

but Samson prays

oh Lord God

please remember me

and what does that look like?

and strengthen me

only this once

God remembers

and acts

for Samson

one last example

Psalm 25

remember

your mercy

oh Lord

and your steadfast love

for they have been

from of old

remember not

the sins of my youth

or my transgressions

according to your

steadfast love

remember me

for the sake

of your goodness

oh Lord

what's he saying?

it's not a prayer

for God

to have memory loss

is it?

see we need God

to remember

some things

and not remember

others

at the same time

in this case

he's saying

to relate to us

according to

one set of things

his mercy

and his

steadfast love

that's what we need

and not

to relate to us

according to

another thing

what's that?

our sin

certainly God

hasn't intellectually

forgotten

either of them

but remembering

means shaping

one's actions

around that

reality

so why all this

talk about

remembering?

remembering

friends

when Jesus

sits

and says

do this

in

remembrance

of me

as

my

memorial

Jesus

says

he's not

merely afraid

that his disciples

will be forgetful

and not realize

that he died

on a cross

now we

we can be

distracted

and be very

forgetful

so that

possibility

exists

but rather

Jesus

is giving

us a gift

an action

a meal

to keep

at the forefront

of our minds

and the center

of our hearts

in a way

that shapes

our lives

the reality

that is most

important

in the entire

universe

his love

and sacrifice

for us

when we

gather

at this

table

I don't know

how many of you

can see what it

says on the front

if you're not

in the first couple

of rows

and most of you

aren't

there are great

seats up here

that you can't

read

there's actually

words written

on the front

of the table

it says

this do

in remembrance

of me

what is it

exactly

that we are

to remember

what does

Jesus tell us

he's very clear

here when he sits

with his disciples

we're to remember

his body

given

for us

verse 19

his

blood

of a

new covenant

with us

that's

verse 20

we remember

Christ's

death

for us

God's

promises

of forgiveness

of our sins

perhaps as you

come to the

table

you even

confess

specific sins

it's a

deliverance

from our

bondage

by the

blood

of the

lamb

right

and as a

result of

that

relationship

with God

himself

that's the

promise

of the

covenant

that God

makes

with us

that all

who are

covered

by the

blood

of Jesus

all who

are trusting

in his

death

for them

will live

with God

forever

wow

what a

what a

promise

what a

thing

to remember

and rejoice

in

remembering

is an

action

we

proclaim

his

death

every time

we do

this

we don't

just think

about something

we proclaim

his death

every time

until he

comes back

even more

than that

we remember

as we

share the

meal

together

our

union

with

Christ

that we

are

connected

to him

by faith

that we

participate

in his

death

and in his

resurrection

we are

united to

him

and therefore

we are

united

with one

another

no matter

what our

differences

are

we remember

that he

brings us

together

so we

remember

that amazing

and gracious

relationship

he brought

us into

because he

verse 15

earnestly

desired

to eat

this

Passover

meal

with his

disciples

and he

earnestly

desires

to share

this

fellowship

meal

with us

and

we remember

Christ's

eternal life

and therefore

our eternal

hope

because if we

died with

him

we will

also

live

with him

twice

here in

the last

supper

eternity

comes up

verse 16

and verse

18

Jesus says

he won't

eat this

meal again

until he's

in God's

kingdom

at the

fulfillment

of this

fellowship

meal

this glorious

marriage supper

of the lamb

we remember

that's coming

and all we

need to know

that that's

a meal

we will

share one

day

but you

hadn't

forgotten

those things

right

before you

came in

here this

morning

if I'd

asked any

of you

in the

parking

lot

you could

have told

me those

things were

true

so this

table

must be

more

than a mere

memorial

it is a

means of

God's

grace

coming to

help us

to live

shaped

by those

realities

that are

brought

at this

table

to the

front of

our minds

and the

center of

our hearts

right

that's what's

supposed to

happen for

us

we're supposed

to be

engaged

so deeply

with our

heads

and with

our hearts

that this

week our

hands

are different

because of

what happens

here

I want you

to think

specifically

and practically

while I give

us some

ideas

what could

that look

like

how would

your life

be different

if the

death of

Jesus

for our

place because

he loves us

so much

is the

controlling

factor of

our lives

this week

if that

happens

we will be

helped to

trust him

in our

suffering

and not

to feel

that we

are alone

because we're

so mindful

of what

he suffered

for us

we'll be

inspired

to love

one another

sacrificially

and tangibly

because he

first loved

us

we'll be

burdened

to share

hope with

our neighbors

because of

our great

gratitude

for our

living source

of eternal

hope that we

just can't stop

thinking about

and we want

to talk

about it

we'll be

strengthened

to repent

deeply

and quickly

both to

God and

to others

because the

forgiveness

and the

freedom from

our sin

is so clear

to us

that it

makes us

eager to

repent

if that

becomes

if that's

what you

wake up

thinking about

that that

becomes the

foremost thing

in your mind

that's the

thing that's

controlling

your heart

is how much

Jesus loves

you and what

he's done

for you

then you'll

be motivated

to give

of your time

and resources

generously

because Jesus

gave of his

resources

and riches

so generously

for us

we'll be

comforted

in our many

sufferings

as strangers

in this world

because we

realize that

there's a home

that Jesus

has for us

where he set

a table there

and we'll feast

with him

and it's so much

better than anything

we could have

here and there's

great comfort

in that

we'll be

empowered

to turn

from the

sin for which

he hung on

the cross

because we

see how

much it

cost

our savior

we'll be

equipped

to find

our value

in a new

place

because we

look for it

in our

performance

don't we

and how

well we

do

and who

thinks

what

of it

and we

realize

here

that Jesus

treasured

us

before we

performed

at all

or did

anything

for him

if

if this

if this

is what

is controlling

your heart

you'll be

encouraged

this week

to spend

time

with Jesus

because you'll

be overwhelmed

by the lengths

that he went

to

to be in

relationship

with you

and so you'll

be all the more

eager

to be with

him

that's what

Jesus wants

for you

those are the

types of

things and

hopefully others

that are coming

to mind

for you

that are

actually what

he's calling

you to

when he

tells you

to take

and eat

and drink

in remembrance

of him

now I'll be

honest I'm not

going to forget

Jesus's name

this week

but I need

God's grace

I need

his help

remembering

in those ways

because that's

not the way

I wake up

every morning

and so

we have

the gift

of the

Lord's

Supper

and so

we want

to celebrate

the Lord's

Supper

more often

okay

that is the

that is the

primary

change

I want to

share with

you this

morning

we have

decided

to double

the frequency

of our

celebrating

the Lord's

Supper

in our

services

here at

Southwood

more or

less

from monthly

to every

other week

stop clapping

stop

that's enough

no I

say that

sincerely

it ought to

bring

joy to

our hearts

right

the heart

behind this

is that

this is a

good gift

of God's

grace to

us

and we

want to

make sure

that we

are fed

with it

regularly

because we

need it

I need it

if it was

merely an

intellectual

reminder

lest you

forget

then once a

year would be

more than

enough

right

but since it

is to be a

life shaping

remembrance

and other

things at least

in my life

crowd in

so much

and so

quickly

distract

my focus

our hearts

and our

lives

need this

more often

right now

I know this

because I've

talked to some

of you

we've realized

all that it

takes is

getting scheduled

on a couple

of wrong

Sundays

to serve

in the

nursery

and then a

kid gets

sick on

another second

Sunday

and maybe

you have a

work trip

or a

family vacation

and all

of a sudden

without even

trying real

hard you've

gone six

months

without

celebrating

the Lord's

Supper

we don't

want that

for any

of you

God has

promised

to minister

his grace

to us

here in a

way that we

can't get

anywhere else

so let's

engage

wholeheartedly

with joy

and gratitude

every opportunity

that we have

to do this

together

I do also

want you to

know that we

are continuing

to evaluate

the impact

of this

on our

lives

we want

your feedback

in this

because we

want all

of our

members

engaged

in regular

heartfelt

meaningful

celebration

of this

special

supper

we don't

want it

to be

neglected

or to

become

nonchalant

and no

big deal

but without

a direct

biblical

command

for exactly

how often

we may

stay at

this new

frequency

that we're

trying now

we may go

back to

once a month

and decide

that was

more helpful

we may

increase

to every

week

and decide

that's

what's

best

but before

settling

on that

we want

to evaluate

with you

the impact

that increasing

the frequency

of our

celebration

has on our

hearts

and on our

lives

so in the

weeks and

months ahead

we'll need

you to

talk with

us about

how that's

going for

you

does that

make sense

one other

change

to tell you

about today

is connected

to the

elements

that represent

to us

the body

and blood

of Jesus

and that is

really important

for our

remembrance

right

they're gonna

help us

remember

when Jesus

himself

instituted

the supper

he did

so with

unleavened

bread

and wine

our bread

while tasty

which I

love

is actually

unleavened

contrary to

what many

I talk to

expect to hear

so there's

no change

there

we can

enjoy our

bread

and delight

in that

but we do

now have

gluten-free

options as

well

at the

center

you see

the pedestal

here

front and

back

if you

need that

just

come over

to those

tables

for the

gluten-free

bread

the same

grape juice

will also

be served

in the

same cups

that we

have used

for years

but we

are

not today

but in

the future

going to

add wine

in the

same

trays

with

purple

cups

that are

clearly

labeled

to

distinguish

juice

and

wine

okay

so to

be clear

there's

no wine

today

okay

and I

mean that

that's

important

we don't

want anyone

to in

this moment

be confused

or struggling

and in

any way

have a

difficult

time

coming to

the table

and be

surprised

we wanted

you to

have

opportunity

to ask

questions

process

concerns

that you

may have

to shepherd

your children

in their

preparation

for how

they should

participate

so that's

not today

but in the

future

we in no

way want

any of you

to feel

bad about

continuing

to take

grape juice

as some of

your leaders

will do the

same thing

you are not

missing out

in any way

on the

full experience

of the

Lord's

supper

that's not

the point

and this

is why

we want

the liquids

clearly

distinguished

so that

our young

people

our brothers

and sisters

who struggle

with alcohol

abuse

and any

others

who prefer

juice for

any reason

whatsoever

don't get

confused

or caught

off guard

okay

that's

that's our

heart

in this

but besides

wine being

the practice

of the church

through history

all the way

back to

Corinth

where those

who drank

too much

at their

church gathering

are chastised

by Paul

for getting

drunk

that's not

okay

and all

the way

up to

the 1920s

America

and the

prohibition

era

the church

has celebrated

with wine

in addition

to that

background

wine represents

very well

both the

bitter

and the

sweet

aspects

of our

Savior's

death

on the

cross

the bitter

cup

of God's

wrath

right

that is

poured out

upon sin

and it's

the same

one that's

the sweet

cup of

forgiveness

that brings

joy to our

hearts as

we celebrate

that

this change

in the

elements

adding wine

like the

change in

frequency

is not

motivated

by a

desire

to placate

personal

taste

an effort

to be

cool

I gave

up on

that a

long time

ago

or to

be relevant

to our

culture

that's not

the motivation

rather

we are

seeking to

be faithful

to God's

word

while

remaining

considerate

of all

of our

brothers

and sisters

and young

people

celebrating

the supper

together

with us

so

having told

you about

those

two basic

changes

please come

talk to

me

today is

great

there's no

connect hour

following the

service

I'll be right

down here

come talk

today or

figure out

another time

we can

talk

talk with

any of

our elders

any of

our women's

advisory team

members

if you have

questions

we'd love

to sit

and process

that more

than what

I'm able

to say

right now

we want

to walk

with you

in this

and we

want to

hear your

feedback

today

if that's

the best

time for

you

and in

the future

if that

would be

more helpful

before we

come to

the table

together

this morning

I want us

to reflect

on one

more thing

about

remembering

in the

Bible

covenant

signs as

memorial

markers

are not

just for

God's

people

to shape

their

hearts

and lives

the covenant

signs

are for

God

to

remember

too

two-way

remembrance

when you

look at

this

table

and you

read

this

do

in

remembrance

of me

that is

that is

two-way

remembrance

let me

explain it

to you

this way

have you

seen a

rainbow

recently

and remembered

God's

promises

to Noah

and all

of creation

did you

know

when you

remembered

that that

God was

remembering

the very

same

thing

as you

look what

he says

about the

rainbow

in

Genesis

chapter

nine

I will

remember

my

covenant

that is

between

me

and you

and every

living

creature

of all

flesh

the water

shall never

again

become a

flood

to destroy

all

flesh

when the

bow

is in

the

clouds

I

will

see

it

and

remember

the

everlasting

covenant

between

God

and every

living

creature

of all

flesh

on the

earth

we're

not

talking

right

about

the

omniscient

creator

of the

universe

forgetting

something

intellectually

and needing

a reminder

right

that's not

true

but God

covenants

with us

to act

on our

behalf

and when

he remembers

it means

he acts

in light

of his

promises

for us

Hebrews

8 says

he remembers

our sins

no more

which

doesn't

mean

he just

can't

recall

who lied

yesterday

that's not

what it

means

no it

means

he is

merciful

toward

our

iniquities

right

he knows

them

but he

relates

to us

like we

read in

Psalm

25

not on

the basis

of our

sins

but on

the basis

of his

mercy

Luke

1 54

says

one of

the greatest

times

he did

this

was when

he sent

Jesus

when God

sends

Jesus

it is

an act

of

remembrance

of his

mercy

helping

his

people

see

when God

remembers

his

people

he

acts

he

comes

to

them

that is

the pattern

throughout

scripture

we can't

cover it

all this

morning

but

particularly

we see

it when

he

comes

to

deliver

them

from

slavery

in

Egypt

then

he

comes

to

deliver

us

from

slavery

to

sin

in

the

person

of

Jesus

and

now

as we

do

this

in

remembrance

of him

as often

as we

eat

this

bread

and drink

this

cup

we

proclaim

the

Lord's

death

yes

to our

own

hearts

we need

that

proclamation

yes

to a

watching

world

and they

need

to hear

that

proclamation

but I

think

quite

possibly

even if

I

can't

absolutely

prove it

to you

I'm

pretty

confident

we

proclaim

the

Lord's

death

to

our

God

himself

until

he

does

what

until

he

comes

until

he

remembers

and

comes

to

deliver

us

once

for

all

from

ourselves

and

from

this

broken

world

into

life

everlasting

with

him

because

he

has

come

for

us

listen

friends

before

we

come

to

this

table

I

want

you

to

think

about

it

this

way

if

all

that

happens

at

this

table

is

that

in

our

relationship

with

God

we

are

the

only

ones

who

do

any

remembering

this

morning

there's

only

going

to be

minimal

benefit

from

that

but

if

God

comes

and

remembers

us

and

his

promises

to

us

that

are

signed

here

if

he

redeems

us

as

he

assures

us

in

his

word

that

he

will

and

he

seals

to

us

in

this

sacrament

that

he

will

if

he

indeed

lives

with

us

can

you

imagine

this

that

he

lives

with

us

at

the

forefront

of

his

mind

and

at

the

center

of

his

heart

being

faithful

to

his

promises

for

us

then

the

benefit

of

eternal

right

if

he

remembers

us

and

what

he

has

done

and

what

he

has

promised

and

what

he

will

do

for

us

so

we

eat

with

God

this

morning

we

renew

our

covenant

commitment

to

God

through

Jesus

God

we

will

remember

and

we

will

live

for

you

and

he

renews

his

covenant

commitment

to

us

through

Jesus

he

will

remember

and

rescue

and

live

in

relationship

with

us

forever

if

that's

what

you

trust