THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME

The Lord Jesus left two ceremonial ordinances to be observed by believers: baptism, and the breaking of bread. With the responsibility to obey the latter comes the wonderful and precious privilege of meeting together in His name alone to remember Him.

First of all, it should be participated in only by those who have undergone an act of self examination, v. 28. This would involve, amongst other things, obedience to the principle laid down by the Lord Himself, ‘be reconciled to thy brother’, Matt. 5. 24.

It is also an act of obedience for He said, ‘this do in remembrance of me’, vv. 24-25; Luke 22. 19. Initially, this was a command given to the eleven, but observed by all the believers in the early church regularly on the first day of each week, Acts 20. 7. It is an act of thanksgiving and communion, 1 Cor. 10. 16. As we make much of the Lord in our worship this causes us to be deeply thankful for all He has accomplished for us. It is an act of remembrance, v. 24. We remember Him who brought such pleasure to the Father as no man had done before or has done since. We remember His humility; His moral glories whilst here; His mighty and glorious miracles, exercising control over disease, death and the elements. We remember that sinless spotless life leading onwards in perfect majestic purpose to the place of sacrifice to lay down His life for us. We remember His glorious triumph at Calvary, for He finished, so completely and perfectly, the work the Father gave Him to do. It is an act of proclamation, v. 26; 1 Cor. 14. 23-26. As the remembrance of Him takes place, those who have come in as unbelievers will be spoken to powerfully. ‘And thus are the secrets of his (the unbeliever’s) heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth’, 1 Cor. 14. 25. Finally, it is an act of expectation v. 26. We do it expecting that each time it may be the last, for we ‘hear His footsteps on the threshold of the door’.

The apostle Paul never missed an opportunity to be at the breaking of bread meeting. What about us?