The Memorial Feast
Christians are both commanded and privileged to memorialize the most important event in history each First Day of the week. The breaking of bread and drinking of the cup is something that the church is instructed to do each Lord's Day and our following that command is not simply in deference to the Bible's commands. The Bible clearly describes the importance of this great memorial to each and every Christian.
First, the Lord's Supper is designed to remember the Lord. With so many things going on in our lives, there's a distinct possibility that we'd not consider our Savior as often as we should. The Son of Man therefore instituted the supper, telling His disciples to, "do this in remembrance of Me" (Luke 22:19). Of course, let it be a true statement that each of us consider Jesus everyday. But let it also be said that we long for the Lord's Day to memorialize our gracious and loving Messiah.
Second, the memorial feast is an opportunity for Christians to become more united in our common faith. Paul writes, "For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread" (I Corinthians 10:17). Whether a congregation has five or 500 members, the individual saints eat the bread and drink the cup as one. Paul taught us how important it was to be unified and one way to work toward that goal is through the observance of the Lord's Supper (Ephesians 4:3)
Third, the Lord's Supper is a great opportunity for the greatest proclamation. Paul said, "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes" (I Corinthians 11:26). In His life, Jesus used every opportunity to teach others about God, His grace, and the necessity of true, unfettered obedience to the Creator. It's quite fitting, therefore, that even in death, Jesus used His sacrifice as yet another opportunity to teach about Himself and the salvation that comes through Him.
Finally, the Lord's Supper provides us an opportunity to examine ourselves. Paul says, "let a man examine himself" while eating the bread and drinking the cup (I Corinthians 11:28). Each day should be an opportunity for self-examination, yet the time partaking of the Lord's Supper should be uniquely important as the one specific event which the Holy Spirit asked each of us to strongly consider ourselves and where we stand in service to God.
While partaking of the Lord's Supper today and each Lord's Day, let us consider how important it is in light of the scriptures' teachings. And let us dedicate ourselves to be being more appreciative of what our great and glorious Savior has done for each of us.