MEMORIALS

Jack Davis

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.” Mt. 26:26. It is interesting to notice what Jesus did with the bread, which represented His body, as they were sharing this meal. What a fellowship! This memorial is to keep us aware, of what he bare, that we might enjoy our blood-bought share. I Pet. 2:24; I Cor. 10:16.

“HE TOOK BREAD”

He took that body from his Father’s hand, in perfect submission. God had provided that He dwell or live therein for a while. Heb. 10:5-10,14. A body prepared for Him especially as a vehicle in which to do all the Father’s will. I am persuaded that Jesus took it willingly. He accepted the physical being without quibbling, why hast thou made me thus? This human form was a necessity for his entrance into the world to be the redeemer of humanity. We also think of this event as “the word made flesh.” This body in which He lived was completely dependant upon His Father for his care. 

We think of Mary who gave birth to and nourished Jesus, looking at Him as a mother would. We don’t know how much she understood of the prophecies concerning Him, but it must have been a great trial of her faith to see Him suffering there on the cross. We think of another Mary anointing His body for His burial. The care given by Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus preparing His body for burial. I believe God saw to it.

“HE BLESSED IT”

Oh, would not a body be blessed wherein Jesus lived for about thirty-three years? Wherein Jesus did nor knew no sin. He did far more than “take it” or accept it. We get a sense from synonyms given from the Greek…” to speak well of in praise and thanksgiving to attribute as belonging to God, to consecrate for use unto God’s glory.

Many put too much importance on our physical well-being. Some even equate such with spirituality. WRONG! Some of the most spiritual saints I have known suffered severely in body. Others fail to realize the proper importance God gives to the care of these bodies. There are those who abuse, misuse, neglect, and even reject them. Let us remember that by faith we are temples of the living God. We well appreciate the fact that they are a needed “house” to live in for a while, while we prepare for eternity. God cares about these earthen vessels enough to place the Christ life treasure within. He commanded the light of the glorious gospel to shine therein.

When we yield to Him He makes us vessels unto honor, meet for the Master’s use. These vessels in which there is to be manifested the life of Christ, and even to magnify Him. II Cor. 4:10; Phil. 1:20. I Cor. 6:15 says that our bodies are members of Christ. Don’t we glorify  God in these physical bodies? II Cor. 6:18-20. Paul said “I keep under my body,” It is so needful to submit ourselves unto the control of the new life, and the Holy Spirit.

To me it is so sad and dangerous that so many saints allow their bodies to be boss in their life. Daily choices, and even spiritual decisions are being determined by physical conditions. Lord help us overcome wherever we are, content in whatever state we are in. Rom. 12:1-3. It is our privilege to present ourselves a living sacrifice. Has He promised that the Spirit shall quicken these bodies? Are we earnestly awaiting the Redemption of our bodies? OH GLORY, THESE WILL BE CHANGED IN A TWINKLING OF AN EYE. I Cor. 15:51-52. We shall soon be fashioned like unto His glorious body when He comes. Phil. 3:20-21. Who can estimate how blessed these bodies have been to have the life of the Son of God move in.

“HE BRAKE IT”

Or presented it for the breaking

The Greek synonym has the thought… “to break off, bust asunder, crack apart.” We read that not a bone of Him was broken. It is indicated by Scripture that His heart burst, water and blood flowed together out of His pierced side. His bones were out of joint.

We think of His marvelous walk, His wonderful words, His amazing works. As He talked and walked He taught, even illustrated His messages, with miraculous examples concerning the truth of His ultimate purpose for being here. He healed those oppressed of the devil, He made the lame to walk, the dumb to talk, deaf to hear, He fed the multitude, He stilled the storms. But He had a definite path, a sure destiny. The things mentioned before was not His whole mission for being here, not the total purpose. He was here for the breaking, and giving. Had He returned to heaven right after His transfiguration on the mount, where would we be?

The Scripture gives us memorials of several things broken, and teaches us of how God can use the broken things. We think of the alabaster box broken, in order that the fragrance could flow out and fill the house. Gideon’s men with their pitchers, which had to be broken to allow the lamps within to shine out for victory.

“HE GAVE IT”

Isa. 50:4-7, Fortells the giving of His body. Read Eph. 5:1-2; Gal. 2:20. But let us consider John 6:47-58. In verse 51, He speaks of Himself as the living bread come down from heaven, and refers to it as His flesh which He will give for the life of the world. Thank God! The bread of life can be also our daily bread. He is our sacrifice but also our satisfying portion. We will one day wear what we have been eating today.

“TAKE EAT”

He so graciously says “take eat. What shall we eat? What shall we wear? Physically it seems that some of us think that we wear much more than we eat. How do we eat or take in the bread of life? Are we not privileged to be partakers of His life? What type of life do we have by faith? He is HOLY, PURE, UNDEFILED, AND ALIVE FOR EVERMORE. We may enjoy from Him all the nourishment and satisfaction we need. V. 55. He seems to express here how we “eat” or take into our life the word of life. Verse 47: “He that believeth,” as we believe we are taking Him into our lives. Verse 56: tells us to “dwell in Him.” Speaking of our “living by Him.” Col. 3:4 speaks of Christ who is our life, Gal. 2:20 we live by His faith.

Consider what He has done to present us gloriously complete. Col. 1:21-23, “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: if ye continue in the faith…”

His part, “I give,” He asks of us, “take, eat.”