Sermon Snippet – Remember – Part II
INTRODUCTION – I Corinthians 11:23-25 reminds us that Jesus inaugurated the Communion service and twice said, “This do in remembrance of me.” A necessary aspect of Communion, then, is remembering what Jesus has done for us. I know that as I grow older I spend more time remembering (or, sometimes, trying to remember!). Bad memories easily confront us; good memories require effort by us to crowd out the bad. Jesus knows our limitations and knows that we need to be encouraged to remember Who He is and what He has done.
1. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF JESUS’ MINISTRY, REMEMBERING WAS IMPORTANT
Right after His first miracle at a wedding in Cana, Jesus went to the Temple in Jerusalem and cleansed it (John 2:13-16). Verse 17 records that “His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘The zeal of Thine house hath eaten me up.’ “ This quotation is from Psalm 69:9, and the disciples remembered it and correctly applied it to Jesus, the promised Messiah. Then the Jewish leaders challenged Jesus’ authority, and Jesus responded in a thought-provoking manner (John 2:18-21). More than three years later, the disciples recalled this incident and finally understood its implications (verse 22).
2. THREE YEARS LATER, REMEMBERING WAS STILL IMPORTANT
As Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday (which we celebrate next week), He was greeted with prophetic Messianic words found in Psalm 118:25-26 (John 12:12-13). He also rode on a donkey, fulfilling the extremely precise prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 (John 12:14-15). Verse 16 relays the response of His followers: “These things understood not His disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things unto Him.”
3. AS JESUS APPROACHED THE CROSS, REMEMBERING REMAINED IMPORTANT
Jesus had specifically predicted that Peter would deny Him (Luke 22:34). As Jesus endured His trial before the High Priest, Peter openly repudiated the Savior (Luke 22:60). Verse 61 tells us that Peter suddenly “remembered the word of the Lord.” The sad result is found in verse 62.
4. AT THE BURIAL OF JESUS, REMEMBERING WAS SURPRISINGLY IMPORTANT
The vicious opponents of Jesus remembered that He had openly predicted His resurrection (Matthew 27:62-66). Unwittingly, they provided irrefutable evidence that Jesus had indeed risen from the grave, for His tomb was officially sealed and heavily guarded… by His enemies!
5. AT THE EMPTY TOMB OF JESUS, REMEMBERING WAS CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT
As the thoughtful and devout ladies came to Jesus’ empty grave (Luke 24:1-9), they heard the words of the angels: “He is not here, but is risen: remember how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again’ “ (verses 6-7). Yes, “they remembered His words” (verse 8).
CONCLUSION – Now, as we partake of the emblems of our Savior’s sacrifice, we join with these disciples and with generations of Christians in remembering. May we rejoice as we remember.