QUESTION: What memorials does the Bible ask the Christian to observe?

ANSWER: The answer to this may surprise you. The only memorial that the Bible asks the Christian to observe is the Lord's Supper. In the Bible the Lord's Supper is also called the breaking of bread. It is often referred to by other names such as Communion or the Holy Eucharist.

There are two other memorials that many Christians celebrate, Easter and Christmas. They are intended to remind us of the resurrection and birth of Christ. It is good to be reminded of these events because there could be no salvation without them. However, the Bible does not ask us to observe these or other events in a special way.

The Lord has asked us to remember Him in His death in a special way. Here are the words of the Lord Jesus in the very night that He instituted this supper as quoted from the gospel of Luke. "And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you" (Luke 22:19,20). See also Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25.

Again, divine instruction for this memorial is given to the apostle Paul as a revelation from the Lord, "This do in remembrance of Me…For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come" (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

The Lord's Supper is a memorial supper. He has given us two symbols that remind us of His death for us. The first is the bread, which reminds us of Christ's body. We remember that His body was subjected to all the shame and suffering that man could devise. We remember also that He took our place on the cross and was judged by God for our sins (1 Peter 2:24), forsaken by God (Matthew 27:46), and made sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The second symbol is a cup of wine, which reminds us of His blood that was shed for us. We remember the price that had to be paid for our redemption. We read in Hebrews that "without shedding of blood" there could be no remission or forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22). We have been redeemed by the "precious blood of Christ."

No other event in history demonstrates the love of the Lord Jesus for us like His cruel death on Calvary's cross. No doubt this is why the Lord Jesus has asked us to remember Him in His death for us. This should draw forth from our hearts praise and worship.

How often should we remember the Lord in His death for us? We find from Acts 20:7 that the disciples did this upon the first day of the week. It was important to them. It is a time when the Lord's people come together not to receive something from the Lord, but simply to think upon His death, and to give Him the praise and worship that He is so worthy of receiving until He comes.

—John D. McNeil

According to Thy gracious Word,
   In deep humility,
This will I do, my dying Lord,
   I will remember Thee.
 
Remember Thee, and all Thy pains,
   And all Thy love to me?
Yea, while a breath, a pulse remains,
   I will remember Thee!
 
      —James Montgomery