#164 The Ordained Memorial · My Sermon Notes

“Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”

Here we have full directions for observing the Lord’s Supper.

You see what it was, and how it was done.

The directions are plain, clear, definite.

It will not be right to do something else; we must “this do.”

Nor this for another purpose; but “this do in remembrance of me.”

This command raises a previous question:—Do you know him? He who does not know him cannot remember him.

This being premised, let us observe that—

I. THE MAIN OBJECT OF THE SUPPER IS A PERSONAL MEMORIAL.

“In remembrance of me.” We are to remember not so much his doctrines, or precepts, as his person.

Remember the Lord Jesus at this Supper—

As the trust of your hearts.
As the object of your gratitude.
As the Lord of your conduct.
As the joy of your lives.
As the Representative of your persons.
As the Rewarder of your hopes.
- Remember what he was, what he is, what he will be.
- Remember him with heartiness, concentration of thought, realizing vividness, and deep emotion.

II. THE MEMORIAL ITSELF IS STRIKING.

Simple, and therefore like himself, who is transparent and unpretentious truth. Only bread broken, and wine poured out.
Frequent,—“as oft as you drink it,” and so pointing to our constant need. He intended the Supper to be often enjoyed.
Universal, and so showing the need of all. “Drink you all of it.” In every land, all his people are to eat and drink at this table.
His death is the best memory of himself, and it is by showing forth his death that we remember him.
His covenant relation is a great aid to memory; hence he speaks of—“The new covenant in my blood.” We do not forget Adam, our first covenant-head; nor can we forget our second Adam.
Our receiving him is the best method of keeping him in memory; therefore we eat and drink in this ordinance.
- No better memorial could have been ordained.

III. THE OBJECT AIMED AT IS ITSELF INVITING.

Since we are invited to come to the holy Supper that we may remember our Lord, we may safely infer that—

We may come to it, though we have forgotten him often and sadly. In fact, this will be a reason for coming.
We may come, though others may be forgetful of him. We come not to judge them, but to remember him ourselves.
We may come, though weak for anything else but the memory of his goodness.
It will be sweet, cheering, sanctifying, quickening, to remember him; therefore let us not fail to come.

Let us at the sacred table quit all other themes.

Let us not burden ourselves with regrets, resolves, etc.

Let us muse wholly and alone on him whose flesh is meat indeed, whose blood is drink indeed: John 6:55.

Testimonies

Our Lord Jesus has his own memorials of us, even as he has given us a memorial of himself. The prints of the nails constitute forget-me-nots of a peculiarly personal and abiding kind: “Behold, I have graven you upon the palms of my hands”: Isaiah 49:16. By these marks he sees what he has already suffered, and he pledges himself to do nothing apart from those sufferings, for his hands, with which he works, are pierced. Since he thus bears in his hands the marks of his passion, let us bear them on our hearts.

Frequently to me the Supper has been much better than a sermon. It has the same teaching-power, but it is more vivid. The Lord is known of us in the breaking of bread, though our eyes have been held during his discourse. I can see a good meaning in the saying of Henry III., of France, when he preferred the Sacrament to a sermon: “I had rather see my Friend than hear him talked about.” I love to hear my Lord talked about, for so I often see him, and I see him in no other way in the Supper than in a sermon; but sometimes, when my eye is weak with weeping, or dim with dust, that double glass of the bread and wine suits me best.—C. H. S.

“This do in remembrance of me.”—1. This command implies a knowledge of himself. To remember, we must first know. It is no use saying to a man born blind, “Remember the sunshine.” 2. It reveals the love of Christ. Why should he care about our remembering him? Dying voices have said to some of us, “Think of me sometimes; don’t forget me.” It is the very nature of love to want to be remembered. 3. It implies a tendency to forget. God never founds a needless institution. It is a sin that we do not remember Christ more. We should thankfully use every help to memory.—Outline of an Address by Dr. Stanford.

At school we used certain books called “Aids to Memory.” I am sure they rather perplexed than assisted me. Their utility was equivalent to that of a bundle of staves under a traveler’s arm: true, he might use them one by one to walk with, but in the meantime he carried a host of others which he would never need. But our Savior was wiser than all our teachers, and his remembrancers are true and real aids to memory. His love-tokens have an unmistakable language, and they sweetly win our attention.—C. H. S.

If a friend gives us a ring at his death, we wear it to keep up the memory of our friend; much more, then, ought we to keep up the memorial of Christ’s death in the sacrament.—Thomas Watson.

In memory of Your cross and shame, (1 Corinthians 11:23–26,)

I take this Supper in Your name; This juice of grape, and flour of wheat,

My outward man does drink and eat.

Oh, may my inward man be fed

With better wine and better bread!

May Your rich flesh and precious blood

Supply my spirit’s daily food! (John 6:54.)

I thank You, Lord, You died for me:

Oh, may I live and die to You! (Romans 14:7–10.)

A. A. Rees.