John 19:31-4231 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him.
33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.
34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.
36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken."
37 And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."
38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.
39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.
40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews' Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.
NKJV
We need to realize what Jesus did for us on the cross.
Not only should we realize what Jesus did, but we should also remember. How quickly and easily we forget. Jesus knows this about us... that we do tend to forget. He knows how we are created and how we are wired.
Some of this forgetfulness can be an instrument of God's healing. Sometimes we forget pain that we suffered and trials we endured. But we also forget names, numbers, and sometimes birthdays and even anniversaries.
I got married on Valentine's Day and it helps that the stores put out hearts to help me remember. But we tend to forget (or not think about) the most important date of all and the event itself. The crucifixion. Communion is a time of remembering. Remembering what He did for us. He bled. He died. He took it when He did not have to.
Our job?
To remember.
That is why Jesus told us during communion to remember. Why? The sad fact is because He knows we might forget. Celebrate communion often. Do it at home, do it at work, do it with your parents and do it with your kids.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 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; 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." 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." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. NKJV
Throughout history we have had slogans like 'remember the Alamo' or 'remember the Maine'. Ours is simple. Remember Jesus.
Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
