The Memorial

In the Beginning

For almost two thousand years the followers of Jesus Christ have memorialized his death. They eat the bread and drink the cup in remembrance of him (1 Corinthians 11:24,25). What at the beginning was undoubtedly well understood to be an annual event such as the Jewish passover, over time it changed to a “communion” service that took place more frequently and on any day of the week.

For a number of years The Herald’s second issue of the calendar year has dealt with some aspect of the Memorial. This year we look at our basic understanding of what the Lord asked us to do. We begin with the article Our “Passover” Memorial. It contrasts the Memorial with the Passover and shows why it is appropriate to celebrate it on the fourteenth day of the Jewish month Nisan. Next is a verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 11. There Paul identified some basic misunderstandings the brethren had about the Memorial and how it should be observed.

The Cup of Our Lord looks at what was poured into that Memorial cup from Jesus’ perspective. Why Two Emblems? compares and contrasts the bread and the cup. Both symbols represent Jesus, but each from a different viewpoint. Drinking the Cup explores whether wine or grape juice should be used in this service, or if it makes a difference.

Although most end the Memorial service with the singing of a hymn and leaving without a closing prayer (Matthew 26:30), in fact our Lord that night offered a most inspiring prayer. Christ’s Intercessory Prayer looks at this prayer as recorded in John 17. The Olive Press (the meaning of the word Gethsemane) contrasts the garden where our Lord was seized by his enemies with the original garden of Eden.

We end with The Memorial Date, an analysis of how and why we calculate the Memorial date as we do. As a part of this article and reproduced on the last page of this issue is a table of the Memorial dates for the next thirty years.

We hope this issue will be an encouragement to all who seek to do the Lord’s will at this Memorial season. Soon the day will come when we will, if faithful, drink it “new” with him in the kingdom (Matthew 26:29).