In Memory... A Study of Two Memorials

Fifty Days The night of the last Passover was the night that Jesus was arrested, tried, sentenced, and put to death.

Fifty Days Three days later, on the following first day of the week, Jesus arose from the grave.

Fifty Days During the forty days following the Passover, Jesus appeared to over 500 people.

Fifty Days At the end of forty days, Jesus gave instructions to His apostles and then ascended into Heaven.

Fifty Days Ten days after Jesus' ascension, the apostles received the Holy Spirit as promised by Jesus.

Fifty Days With the aid of the Holy Spirit, the apostles began to preach Jesus Christ. 3,000 people obeyed and the Lord added them to His church.

Memorial Observed Now that Jesus' church was established, the saints began to faithfully worship the Lord, observing the memorial feast instituted by Jesus Christ. Now that Jesus' church was established, the saints began to faithfully worship the Lord, observing the memorial feast instituted by Jesus Christ.

Memorial Observed Example #1: Acts 2:41-42 Example #1: Acts 2:41-42 “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” Act 2:41 “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” Act 2:41 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Act 2:42 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Act 2:42

Memorial Observed Example #1: Acts 2:41-42 Example #1: Acts 2:41-42 “They” = the 3,000 souls - those whom the Lord had added to the church. cf. Acts 2:47 “They” = the 3,000 souls - those whom the Lord had added to the church. cf. Acts 2:47 “continued steadfastly” = to continue without fail and on a consistent basis. “continued steadfastly” = to continue without fail and on a consistent basis.

Memorial Observed Example #1: Acts 2:41-42 Example #1: Acts 2:41-42 “continued steadfastly” = to continue without fail and on a consistent basis. “continued steadfastly” = to continue without fail and on a consistent basis. “apostle's doctrine” = the inspired teachings of the apostles. “apostle's doctrine” = the inspired teachings of the apostles.  The Christians continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine. They gave great devotion to adhere to those things taught by the apostles.

Memorial Observed Example #1: Acts 2:41-42 Example #1: Acts 2:41-42 “continued steadfastly” = to continue without fail and on a consistent basis. “continued steadfastly” = to continue without fail and on a consistent basis. “fellowship” = fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation. “fellowship” = fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation.  The Christians continued in that common ground of spiritual fellowship, being all members of that one body of Christ.

Memorial Observed Example #1: Acts 2:41-42 Example #1: Acts 2:41-42 “continued steadfastly” = to continue without fail and on a consistent basis. “continued steadfastly” = to continue without fail and on a consistent basis. “breaking of bread” = context points to the memorial feast established by Jesus where He “broke bread.” “breaking of bread” = context points to the memorial feast established by Jesus where He “broke bread.”  Apostles doctrine, fellowship, prayers  See verse 46 where context is different, is a common meal.

Memorial Observed Example #1: Acts 2:41-42 Example #1: Acts 2:41-42 “continued steadfastly” = to continue without fail and on a consistent basis. “continued steadfastly” = to continue without fail and on a consistent basis. “in prayers” = the saints continued in offering up prayers to God. “in prayers” = the saints continued in offering up prayers to God.  Grouping prayers with the apostles' doctrine, fellowship, and breaking of bread places worship as the context.

Memorial Observed Example #2: Acts 20:7 Example #2: Acts 20:7 “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.” Act 20:7 “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.” Act 20:7

Memorial Observed Example #2: Acts 20:7 Example #2: Acts 20:7 “on the first day of the week” = the first day of the week was the day the Lord arose from the grave. This was the day to worship the Lord. “on the first day of the week” = the first day of the week was the day the Lord arose from the grave. This was the day to worship the Lord.  The saints in Corinth assembled on the first day of the week. cf. 1 Cor 16:1-2

Memorial Observed Example #2: Acts 20:7 Example #2: Acts 20:7 “the disciples” = Christians, saints, followers of Jesus Christ “the disciples” = Christians, saints, followers of Jesus Christ “came together” = to assemble together, to draw together “came together” = to assemble together, to draw together  The saints, the disciples, the Christians assembled together on the first day of the week for a specific purpose. What was that purpose?

Memorial Observed Example #2: Acts 20:7 Example #2: Acts 20:7 “to break bread” = to break bread as did Jesus – the memorial feast “to break bread” = to break bread as did Jesus – the memorial feast  The saints were assembled.  First day of the week (same day of Jesus' resurrection)  Paul was preaching.  This is the same as seen in Acts 2:42.

Memorial Observed Example #3: 1 Cor 10:16 Example #3: 1 Cor 10:16 “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” 1 Cor 10:16 “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” 1 Cor 10:16

Memorial Observed Example #3: 1 Cor 10:16 Example #3: 1 Cor 10:16 “The cup of blessing... the communion of the blood of Christ” “The cup of blessing... the communion of the blood of Christ”  Compare to Luke 22:20 “The bread which we break... the communion of the body of Christ?” “The bread which we break... the communion of the body of Christ?”  Compare Luke 22:19 All Christians participate or share in the partaking of the cup and the bread. All Christians participate or share in the partaking of the cup and the bread.

Memorial Observed Example #4: 1 Cor 11:20, Example #4: 1 Cor 11:20, “Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper.” 1 Cor 11:20 “Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper.” 1 Cor 11:20  Paul uses the phrase "the Lord's supper" to refer to the memorial instituted by Jesus Christ prior to His death.

Memorial Observed Example #4: 1 Cor 11:20, Example #4: 1 Cor 11:20, “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;” 1 Cor 11:23 “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;” 1 Cor 11:23  The Lord had given Paul instructions regarding the night He was betrayed.

Memorial Observed Example #4: 1 Cor 11:20, Example #4: 1 Cor 11:20, “and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'” 1 Cor 11:24 “and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'” 1 Cor 11:24  Regarding the bread, Paul reminds the brethren that Jesus commanded, “do this in remembrance of Me.”

Memorial Observed Example #4: 1 Cor 11:20, Example #4: 1 Cor 11:20, “In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.'” 1 Cor 11:25 “In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.'” 1 Cor 11:25  Regarding the cup, Paul reminded the brethren that Jesus commanded, “This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Memorial Observed Example #4: 1 Cor 11:20, Example #4: 1 Cor 11:20, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.” 1 Cor 11:26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.” 1 Cor 11:26  As often as Christians eat the bread and drink the cup, they “proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.”  To proclaim – to announce, declare, make known, publish

Memorial Observed Example #4: 1 Cor 11:20, Example #4: 1 Cor 11:20, “Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.” 1 Cor 11:27 “Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.” 1 Cor 11:27  To eat and drink in an unworthy manner is to show disrespect to the Lord's Supper by not observing it as a memorial feast.  It must proclaim the Lord's death to the person who is eating and drinking.

Memorial Observed Example #4: 1 Cor 11:20, Example #4: 1 Cor 11:20, “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” 1 Cor 11:28 “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” 1 Cor 11:28  The elements are designed for a specific purpose.  The individual Christian must give careful consideration to himself as to the how and the why of the memorial feast.

Memorial Observed Example #4: 1 Cor 11:20, Example #4: 1 Cor 11:20, “For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.” 1 Cor 11:29 “For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.” 1 Cor 11:29  The memorial feast sets apart the body and blood of Christ in his death.  The individual must give attention to the death of Jesus Christ. This is the purpose of the memorial feast.

Memorial Observed Example #4: 1 Cor 11:20, Example #4: 1 Cor 11:20, “For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.” 1 Cor 11:30 “For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.” 1 Cor 11:30  The church in Corinth had ceased to observe the Lord's Supper as a memorial feast—a feast designed to remind saints of Jesus' death.  As a result, some were spiritually weak and sick, and some were spiritually dead.

The Lesson The Passover feast was to remind the Israelites of their deliverance. This was to be a yearly observance. The Passover feast was to remind the Israelites of their deliverance. This was to be a yearly observance. Jesus Christ instituted a feast to remind Christians of His death, their deliverance from sin. Jesus Christ instituted a feast to remind Christians of His death, their deliverance from sin. Paul calls this “the Lord's Supper.” Paul calls this “the Lord's Supper.” The saints observed this memorial feast on the first day of the week. The saints observed this memorial feast on the first day of the week.

The Lesson It is crucial that you and I give our attention and focus to the death of Jesus Christ every time we partake of the memorial feast. It is crucial that you and I give our attention and focus to the death of Jesus Christ every time we partake of the memorial feast.