Jump Start # 2976

1 Corinthians 11:24 “and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, ‘This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’”

We have a saying around here, “Sunday is the best day of the week.” Hardly a week goes by and that is not said. Most of our folks know this. What makes Sunday so special? Why is it a better day than Friday night or Saturday morning? Why Sunday?

Here’s why:

First, it’s the day that creation started. When people say “It’s wrong to work on Sunday,” they forget that God did.

Second, it’s the day that Jesus rose from the grave. That was the crowning event in the N.T. That was the crushing blow to Satan. The darkness of the tomb must have seemed like a victory to the devil, but, ‘up from the grave He arose.’ And, He didn’t just come back to life, He was raised to never die again. NEVER. We  live after death, because He did.

Third, Sunday is the day that the gospel was first preached. That saving message of Jesus Christ was echoed in and around Jerusalem, not once but that message has circled the planet. Salvation is in Christ. There is no other name that saves.

Fourth, Sunday is the day that saints gathered. They came together on the first day of the week. They came to worship. They came to honor the resurrected Christ.

Fifth, Sunday is the day that Christians remember. We remember that death. We remember how He died. We remember why He died. We remember what that death did.

And, this is where our verse takes off of today. Paul is instructing the Corinthians about the Supper which is to remember Christ. Somehow things got sideways and the purpose was missed by the pride and pomp of some of the Corinthians. Instead of remembering, they were hogging it all and keeping others from participating. Something that should have brought them together, was used to pull them apart.

Jesus took some bread, gave thanks and then broke it. A question surfaced recently. Most congregations are now using the disposable cups with the bread on one side and the juice on the other side. This is healthier and in this pandemic, it makes sense. But how is the bread broken, if no one actually breaks it? A good thought. There are several things about that Corinthian statement that we just don’t know. For instance, did Jesus break the loaf in two giant pieces? Did He break it into twelve pieces, one for each of the apostles? Was it broken evenly? Was it cut in half or did the Lord just tear it with His hands? Did Jesus do this with His right hand or His left hand? Is it necessary for another person to touch the bread that I will put in my mouth? Was there just “one loaf” that Jesus started with? Lots of places and questions we could go to and in the midst, we could miss the main point, that is remembering the sinless body that was sacrificed for us.

I don’t believe Heaven shakes a finger in disgust at me because no one “broke” the bread as I took it out of my disposable container. Jesus was making it convenient for the disciples. The emphasis should not be on the tearing of the bread, but on the body that had no broken bones, but the side was pierced. Some might fuss about the posture of Jesus when He broke the bread. The text tells us that He was reclining. If we must break the bread literally, I suppose the one who does that needs to be reclining as Jesus was. Once it was broken in two, or three, or twelve, which piece was handed out first? One could get all the logistics right and miss the main point. Jesus died for us. That bread is a reminder. That bread without leaven, is like His body without sin.

If someone is so inclined to break their little piece in two, or twelve, that’s fine. Now, don’t expect, demand, or force others to do the same. Don’t be requiring what God has not. There are as many unknowns here as there are what we do know.

What makes Sunday great—It’s the Lord’s Day. I’ve known several brethren who passed through the door of death on a Sunday. My dad was one of them. If I was given a choice, I’d sure pick a Sunday, the best day of the week, to put this old world behind us and to pass into the arms of our Savior.

The best day of the week is Sunday!

Roger

Jump Start # 1859

1 Corinthians 11:24 “and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, ‘This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’”

NOTE: THERE WILL BE NO JUMP START ON MONDAY DUE TO THE HOLIDAY.

We are at Memorial Day weekend, the official kickoff of the summer. It’s the time for picnics, cookouts, graduation open houses and a few days off from work. Indianapolis has a famous car race, and Louisville has a massive Beatle festival this weekend. The holiday is to remember those who gave their lives in war for our freedom. Our freedom to enjoy weekends, like this one. Our freedom to worship God the way the Bible tells us to. Our freedom to write and speak about the things we believe. It has been said that the politicians make war but the young people are the ones who fight and die in those wars. Major wars, especially the Civil War and World War II had impacts upon congregations as young men, many were young fathers, went to fight. Their absence emptied a generation of men their age from churches. Some congregations lost nearly all of their deacons as they were gone fighting. And after the war, many never made it back home alive. This left many young widows to struggle with being a single parent. War is ugly.

Our verse today reminds us of the greatest sacrifice ever given in the greatest war of all time, the blood of Jesus for our salvation. His death and His resurrection crush Satan, our greatest foe and enemy. We are free because of Jesus. In this Corinthian passage, Paul quotes the words of Jesus that were spoken to the apostles at the last supper. The Lord’s Supper is the grandest memorial of all. Heaven is saying, “Do not forget this!” The actual words are, “Do this in remembrance of Me.”

What should we remember?

1. We ought to remember why Jesus died. He died to save us. He gave His life so ours would not have to be lost forever. What He did was an act of love. He was innocent and we were guilty. He was pure and we were impure. He had no reason to die and we had every reason to die. Without His death, we would all be doomed. Heaven would not be possible without Jesus. He died for you.

2. We ought to remember how Jesus died. It wasn’t lying in a hospital bed, surrounded with loved ones, holding His hand. He was tortured. It was brutal, painful, long and lonely. People were shouting at Him. His disciples stood off in a distance afraid. His Father turned His back. He died alone. He hurt. It wasn’t quick and humane. It was slow and painful.

3. We ought to remember the manner in which Jesus died. Peter tells us that He uttered no threats. He was reviled but did not revile in return. He prayed. He asked for the forgiveness of His executioners. He made arrangements for His mother’s care. Jesus remained sinless, innocent and true to the very end.

4. We ought to remember that Jesus died by choice. He gave His life. It wasn’t taken from Him. The government of Rome wasn’t in control, Jesus was. He could have stopped it. He could have called for the angels. He went to the cross willingly. He gave His life. It was a willing sacrifice. He wasn’t forced. His death was our gift.

5. We ought to remember what happened because Jesus died. Forgiveness came to those that believe. Hope for the first time filled the earth. The separation between us and God was gone. Believers became reconciled. We were acquitted or justified. We were redeemed. We were saved. We became part of God’s family. The saving message of Jesus has been preached in every land. Thousands and thousands through the generations have believed in Christ and changed their lives. Death no longer is dreaded because of the sacrifice of Jesus. Death is not the end because of Jesus. Christ not only changed our future, and forgave our past, but He impacted our present lives. Because of His death, we walk with Jesus. We model our selves after Jesus. We forgive, because we have been forgiven. We open our hands and our hearts because He was first compassionate to us. We serve. We worship. We changed. All because of a death outside of Jerusalem a long time ago. We are a better people because of Jesus. Our marriages are richer and better. Our families are closer and stronger. Our thoughts are purer. We have put on the heart of a servant because of Jesus. The world is brighter and better today because of Christians and Christians are the way they are because of Jesus.

The greatest memorial day takes place every Sunday when saints bow and remember the death of Jesus. His death changed the world. We are better because of that.

Roger