Jesus says that we celebrate this meal in remembrance of Him. But this is not the first time in redemptive history that God gave something to His people for a remembrance. After the flood, God put the rainbow in the sky as a memorial. At the Exodus, God gave the Passover to Israel so that they would remember that they had been slaves in Egypt. God gave the sacrifices to Israel as memorials – so that they would regularly remember that God took away their sins. Even the High Priest wore a breastplate of precious stones and the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the stones as memorials.
But one of the important themes that emerges in many of the memorials is the theme of God’s remembrance of us. Not only do the signs remind us that we are God’s people, but they are also said to be reminders for God that we are His people. Genesis says that God will see the rainbow and remember His covenant. In the Passover, God saw the blood on the doors of the faithful Israelites and passed over their homes and spared the first born and brought Israel out of Egypt. Scripture says that when sacrifices were offered God smelled the aroma and remembered His covenant and mercy with Israel. And likewise, it says that when the High Priest ministered before the Lord bearing the names of the tribes of Israel on his breastplate, God would see the names of the tribes and remember them.
Of course, in a strict sense, God never forgets and does not need to be reminded of anything. God does not change in any way. But God has determined to be for us in time and space, and in His providence, our prayers and worship are truly part of how God has determined to act in history. And in this sense, He is pleased to remember us in His favor.
All of this is taken up into this memorial meal. We take and eat and drink and remember and believe. But by His infinite wisdom and mercy, when we take and eat and drink and remember Him – He delights to remember us. He remembers us in our weakness. He remembers us and visits us. He is not far off. He is near to all who call upon Him in truth.
So Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ.
Photo by Abigail Keenan on Unsplash
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