Tuesday, April 10, 2012

"Remembrance"

Considering the fact that I've created a precedent of writing about holidays after they've passed, I figured I'd continue that tradition with talking a little bit about Easter.

As I sat down to write about this, I was struck with the gravity of the subject. Because, as all good Christians know, Easter isn't about bunnies, eggs, and egg-hunts. It isn't about dressing nice and wearing your "Easter suit." It's not about Easter's past as a pagan holiday. It's not about hanging out with fellow believers. It's not even about going to church and listening to a sermon. It's about remembering.

When I was a kid, I used to go to a really small church. It was so small, in fact, that we didn't even have our own building. We rented space from another church in order to hold our service. Well, in the main sanctuary of the church, there was a big, wooden table right in front of the altar, with the following words engraved into it's side:

"Do this in remembrance of me."
As a child seeing this same phrase every week, I began to have it engraved in my memory, just as it was engraved on the table. I remember thinking about the word "remembrance." It stood out to me so much - it was the only big word on the table. It stood out more than the fake flowers that were always perched on the top of the table. Whenever I hear the word "remembrance," I almost always get a mental picture of that word engraved in wood.

It turns out that this phrase that I had seen so much was a quote from 1 Corinthians 11, which discusses the practice of Communion. In the continuation of that phrase, Paul goes on to write, "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."

Proclaim the Lord's death? What? Why?

The fact that Jesus tells us to commemorate his death instead of his birth is so counter-culturally unique. In a culture that celebrates birthdays, grand openings, and things that are new, it might be a little difficult to get why we were told to remember Jesus' death. Well, if I'm correct, there's one main reason:

Christ's death on the cross is the single most powerful example of God's love for us.

Romans 5 says, "...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Well it makes sense, doesn't it? Before Paul wrote this, he precedes it with saying, "perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die..." But we weren't good people, were we? We were God-hating, lying, cheating, murderous, adulterous thieves. Our hearts were so filled with pure darkness that it took the death of the Son of Almighty God to restore us. And that's the point at which God saved us. Not on the day of our best behavior and morality. No. It was when we were at our worst.

That's why this is the ultimate example of love. Christ did not do it for himself, but for the salvation of the world. He did not do it when it was easy, but when it was the hardest thing in the world for Him to do. God did not do it begrudgingly, but "for the joy that was set before him endured the cross." (Heb. 12)

So I encourage you to not only view Easter as a chance to remember Christ's supreme, inimitable love for you, but to take every chance you get to think about His sacrifice. And remember.

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