Memorial Service

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Short Summary
The discourse reflects on the significance of the Lord’s Memorial, emphasizing the remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice as the fulfillment of the Passover lamb and its profound symbolism of redemption through His broken body and shed blood. It highlights the personal relationship believers share with Christ and one another, the call to consecration and faithfulness, and the hope of future glory, encouraging participants to partake with reverence and renewed commitment while looking forward to the fulfillment of God’s kingdom.

Long Summary
Detailed Summary of the Discourse on the Memorial of Christ’s Death

Central Theme: Remembering Christ’s Sacrifice
The discourse centers on the biblical command, “This do in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:24), emphasizing the thankfulness for knowing and remembering Jesus Christ’s sacrifice during the memorial observance.

Blessings Through Christ’s Blood
Believers are described as the “firstborn” covered by Christ’s precious blood, highlighting the blessings of salvation and atonement. The personal relationship with Christ is linked to fellowship among believers, as Paul states in 1 Corinthians 10:16:
*“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?”*
This communion unites Christians worldwide, now and in the future heavenly realm.

God’s Love and Christ’s Mission
God’s love is remembered in sending His only begotten Son while humanity was lost. Jesus fulfilled the Father’s plan by giving himself as a ransom for Adam, meaning every human will have the opportunity for atonement and eternal life.

Preparation for the Memorial
The importance of self-examination is stressed, following the Torah’s command to search for leaven (symbolizing sin) and partake of the memorial with humility, reverence, and conviction.

Historical and Scriptural Foundations: Passover and Jesus’ Last Supper
The memorial coincides with the Jewish Passover on Nisan 14, commemorating God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt (Exodus 12:25-26). Jesus instituted the memorial during the Passover meal with His disciples (Luke 22:15-16), foreshadowing His death as the Lamb of God.

Jesus as the Fulfillment of Passover Types
The discourse details the typology of the Passover lamb from Exodus 12 and its fulfillment in Jesus:
– The lamb was without blemish, symbolizing Jesus’ sinless nature (1 Peter 1:18-19).
– The lamb was slain, pointing to Jesus’ sacrificial death (Hebrews 9:22; John 1:29).
– The lamb’s blood was applied to doorposts to protect the firstborn, symbolizing salvation through Christ’s blood.

God’s Predestined Purpose for the Church
The church is predestined as God’s family, redeemed through Christ’s blood (Ephesians 1:5-7). The believers, called “first fruits” (James 1:18) and “the church of the firstborn” (Hebrews 12:23), are on trial for eternal life and the high calling in Christ Jesus.

Exhortations from Paul
Paul urges believers in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 to keep the feast with sincerity and truth, not with malice or wickedness, symbolizing a life cleansed from sin. He also reminds that partaking of the bread and cup proclaims the Lord’s death until He returns (1 Corinthians 11:26).

Meditation on Deliverance and Consecration
The memorial is a time to meditate on deliverance from sin, blessings received, personal privileges, and responsibilities. Paul’s statement in Galatians 2:20 expresses the believer’s identification with Christ’s death and life through faith.

The Cross as Central to Christian Life
Believers stand at the foot of the cross, confessing the centrality of Christ’s sacrifice (Galatians 6:14) and recognizing the privilege of suffering with Him (Philippians 1:29).

Inclusivity in Participation
Those who have consecrated their hearts but are not yet baptized are encouraged to partake in the memorial, emphasizing total dependence on Jesus’ sacrifice as the only way to God.

Christ’s Victory and Exaltation
Alongside His suffering and death, Jesus’ victory is proclaimed (Philippians 2:8-11; Hebrews 2:9), showing His exaltation and the universal acknowledgment of His lordship.

Fellowship and Unity in Christ
The memorial unites all believers with Christ and each other, reflecting Paul’s desire to know Christ and share in His sufferings and resurrection (Philippians 3:10).

Call to Worthy Partaking
Worthiness is based not on personal merit, but on faith in Christ’s sacrifice and recognition of His body broken for believers. Self-examination and renewal of consecration are encouraged before partaking.

Looking Forward to the Kingdom
The memorial anticipates the future joy of drinking new wine with Christ in His kingdom, fulfilling God’s promises (Isaiah 53).

Jesus’ Final Journey and Teachings
Jesus’ final days included teaching His disciples about His death and resurrection (Matthew 16:21; Luke 9:31). The transfiguration (Matthew 17:9) confirmed His glory and mission.

Call to Self-Denial and Discipleship
Jesus’ teachings on surrender (Mark 10:32-45) and the cost of discipleship are highlighted by the encounter with the rich young ruler, the promise to the apostles, and the challenge to “drink of my cup” (Matthew 20:21).

New Covenant and the Cup
The cup Jesus gave symbolizes the blood of the New Covenant, representing life and salvation. Drinking it expresses faith in the hope of resurrection and commitment to faithful following.

Closing Encouragement and Commands of Love
Jesus’ final words encourage joy and mutual love (John 15:11, 12). The memorial concludes with prayers and hymns, uniting participants in solemn gratitude and fellowship.

Scripture References Cited:
– 1 Corinthians 11:24, 10:16, 5:7-8
– Exodus 12:25-26, 12
– Luke 22:15-16
– Isaiah 53
– 1 Peter 1:18-19
– Hebrews 9:22, 12:23, 2:9
– John 1:29
– Ephesians 1:5-7
– James 1:18
– Galatians 2:20, 6:14
– Philippians 1:29, 2:8-11, 3:10
– Matthew 16:21, 17:9, 20:21
– Mark 10:32-45
– Luke 9:31

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This discourse richly weaves biblical teachings, typology of Passover, and the spiritual significance of Christ’s memorial, encouraging believers to remember, rejoice, self-examine, and renew their commitment to follow Jesus faithfully until His glorious return.

Transcript

This do in remembrance of me we read in 1st Corinthians 11:24 and how thankful we are for the blessings of knowing and remembering Christ Jesus this night.

How blessed we are as the firstborn covered by his precious blood, and yet there are fuller blessings for which we give thanks. Our personal relationship with Christ Jesus links directly to our personal relationship with each other. The Apostle Paul put it this way in First Corinthians 10:16. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion, the common union of the blood of Christ?

The bread which we break, is it not the communion, the common union of the body of Christ? We have the privilege of sharing this communion with our brethren throughout the world, now and someday soon with all of the saints in the heavenly realms. We’re very thankful to call to memory our heavenly Father’s love for us. While we were lost, he sent the most precious thing he could give, his only begotten Son, and yet he came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Jesus faithfully carried out His Father’s plans and willingly gave himself as a ransom sacrifice for Father Adam. To us this means that every human being who’s ever lived shall have a full opportunity for atonement, for at one ment with God and for everlasting life here on the human plane. What a privilege it is to participate in this memorial. Let us search our hearts and, as the Torah commands, search for the leaven that we might be properly prepared. Let us seek to partake of the memorial symbols with humility, reverence, and conviction.

The type and it shall come to pass when your children shall say unto you, what mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, it is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover. Exodus 12:25 and 26. This night is the night where the same questions are asked and answered year by year. This evening in the year 2025 were more than 3,600 years since the firstborn sons of Israel were passed over and spared by the angel of death who did slay the firstborn of Egypt’s SONS on the 14th day of the first Jewish month, Nisan, that is tonight, the day on which the Jews killed the Passover lamb.

Our Lord sat down with his disciples in the upper room and instituted the memorial. Now the apostle’s words, as often as ye do this, refer not only to the bread and the cup, but also to the time, and we hold that the original date and the original method of celebrating our Lord’s death on its anniversary of Nisan 14 is the most solemn and Scriptural method of obedience to our Lord’s instruction to do this in remembrance of me nearly 2000 years ago, in the upper room, our Lord was with his apostles. He said, with desire, I’ve desired to eat this Passover with you, and so should we. He had specially chosen 12 that sojourned with him three and a half years.

This was not their first Passover together. But this year, as Passover approached, Jesus spoke of going up to Jerusalem and they’re being arrested, being tried, being put to death, and then to rise again on the third day.

These sayings were very troubling.

Jesus showed his heartfelt sentiments at this Passover with desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer for I say unto you, I will not eat any more thereof until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. Luke 22:15 16 this was to be a special occasion, foreshadowing his own death as the Lamb of God. Yet our Lord could look beyond even that to the great time when all who are truly his will drink with him the new wine of rejoicing in the kingdom. We’re told in Isaiah 53, he shall see the travail of his soul and be satisfied.

As we look back, we see how the beautiful and detailed types in Israel’s Passover found its fulfillment in the true Lamb of God that taketh away the sin singular of the world. None of the disciples at the time understood that Jesus, whom they loved so deeply as their master and friend, was the fulfillment. How beautifully in all its facets the Passover of Israel pointed forward to Christ, our Passover, and we read of this in 1st Corinthians 5:7. We note the various features from the 12th chapter of Exodus.

First, the Lamb was specially selected and was to be without blemish. How well this pictures our Lord, as Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 1:18 19 forasmuch as you were not redeemed with corruptible things, but with the precious blood of Christ as a lamb without blemish and without spot. From the following verse we note that he was foreordained for this purpose before the foundation of the world in God’s eternal plan. Second, the Lamb was to be slain. We recall the apostle’s words in Hebrew 9:22 that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.

And John the Baptist’s word, behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29 Third, the lamb’s blood was to be painted with just a sprig of hyssop on the door lintel and the side posts of each believing household to secure the safety of the firstborn within.

Isn’t this a beautiful picture of the saving and cleansing blood of our Savior for each believing heart?

Paul tells us that God has a purpose for us. The church is predestined for this service. God accepts us through the blood of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Christ we have redemption and deliverance. We read this in Ephesians 1:5:7 having predestined us.

And remember this means the characteristics of that class, not that individuals are predestined, but he predestined this class of those who would be the gems, the jewels that would be with the Lord, his personal family for eternity, having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace. For us as for Israel, there is no place of safety other than under the blood.

Let’s consider what the firstborn in Exodus picture While these firstborn are us brethren, is our Passover. The believers of the Gospel age are spoken of as first fruits unto God in James 1:18 and as the church of the firstborn in Hebrews 12:23. We’ve been called by God for special service, and are on trial now for eternal life and the greatest prize that will ever be offered, the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus. How fitting then are the apostles words to each of us in 1st Corinthians 5, 7 and 8. For even Christ, our Passover is sacrificed for us.

Therefore let us keep the feast not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. The Israelites were instructed that at each year’s remembrance of their deliverance from Egypt, their children were to have this account of the Passover of Hessach recounted to them and the significance of the occasion explained. This was not only to be remembering of the event, but a proclaiming of its meaning. So while this Passover specially focuses on the firstborn, all that are in the household of faith need to hear these words each year as well. With each passing year we pause to meditate.

We meditate upon the means of our deliverance from sin and death, to meditate upon the resultant blessings, to meditate upon our own privileges, to meditate upon our responsibilities.

Paul said this in writing to the Galatians 2:20.

I am crucified. I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live. Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. The apostle Paul tells us that each time we partake of the bread representing his broken body and the cup representing his shed blood, we show forth our Lord’s death till he comes.

So not only do we remember all that he has done for us, his perfect obedience, even unto death, the death of the cross, but we proclaim the grand message of redemption through his blood, and the blessings which Scripture promise will eventually flow to all the families of the earth.

As we prepare to partake of what has fittingly been termed this simple feast, simple in form and yet profound in meaning, let us reflect upon the deliverance which it commemorates, upon the privileges of fellowship with our Savior and His death. How we are together with others of like precious faith, and upon our personal consecration to follow in his steps of obedience, sacrifice, and service. Once more we stand. We stand, as it were, where our Christian life began, at the foot of the cross of Christ Jesus.

And again we confess with the apostle. God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, an eye unto the world. Galatians 6:14 we are reminded that we have the privilege of suffering with Jesus, of taking up the cross daily, having been baptized into the likeness of his death. We read this in Philippians 1:29 to you it is given on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but to suffer for his sake.

There are rich blessings for all who love him and gladly accept his invitation, and who strive to obey his words in this and in all matters of discipleship. So amid the solemnity of the occasion, there’s an inner joy which comes from the obedience to the will of him whom yet unseen, we love, and the sense of fellowship in this service with all who are likewise seeking to follow Him. This do in remembrance of Me, our taking part in this service, and I like to make observation at this point. If you have given your heart in full consecration to the Lord and have not yet symbolized that decision with water baptism, please feel free to participate in the service.

We’re confessing that in ourselves we have nothing to offer to God. There is no other way to him but the way of the Cross. There is no other name under heaven but the precious name of Jesus, whereby we must be saved. But even as we remember his suffering and death, let us not overlook that we are also witnessing his victory, as we read in Philippians 2, 8, 11 and being found in the fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

And again in Hebrews 2, 9, we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that he, by the grace of God should taste death for every man. Further, this service unites all who love and trust in the Savior with him, and with all who are his. The apostle Paul beautifully brings this out in 1st Corinthians 10:16. Paul’s great desire was to know him, and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death, Philippians 3:10.

It is our privilege also to follow our Savior Jesus, to share in his sufferings now and later in his glory, now in obedience and faithfulness, and in the ages of ages, to assist in the work of blessing all mankind. Who is worthy to come to this table of the Lord.

How thankful we may be that in his righteousness and by faith, faith in the merit of his perfect sacrifice, we may come confidently, we may come as worthy. This do in remembrance of me. A life lived in conformance to his will and to his praise should certainly be our daily objective. But the measure of our attainment is not what is required of those who come to his table. Personal achievement, personal worth is not what the apostle speaking of where he refers to partaking worthily or unworthily.

If that was based on our personal qualifications, none would qualify, but rather it is the recognition of our dear Lord’s body broken for us personally, our acknowledgment of all he’s done for us, to see in the emblems what he endured, to confess again our total dependence on him and the merit of his blood to appreciate even more fully God’s gracious calling, to be identified with our Savior and with all the faithful ones now that by and by we may be glorified together. So as each memorial season comes, it is good for us to review. It is good for us to renew our consecration, to follow in the Savior’s steps, the apostles instructions to examine ourselves and then, in full assurance of faith and renewed commitment to his service, to partake of the unleavened bread and the cup gladly and with gratitude in remembrance of him. Let us also, as our Savior did on that night so long ago, look forward joyfully to the glorious time when all God’s faithful children shall drink of the new wine of rejoicing with our Master in the kingdom. In his final days, Jesus left Galilee and took his disciples northward, actually near the foot of Mount Hermon.

And in the quietness of this retreat, Jesus for the first time began to tell his followers of his approaching death. We read of this in Matthew 16:21. During this period of retirement, Jesus passed through a glorious transfiguration on this holy mount. But only three of his chosen disciples saw his glory and heard the other two participants in that glory scene talk with Jesus of the decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. Luke 9:31 Descending from the mount to the other waiting disciples, Jesus charged these favored witnesses to tell no man what they had seen till the Son of Man be risen again from the dead.

Matthew 17:9 from this time on, Jesus returned to Galilee for the last time, leaving those cities where his mightiest works had been done to go up to Jerusalem.

Now reference to his approaching death and resurrection fell much more frequently from his lips. The disciples questioned amongst themselves what these strange sayings might portend, and they failed to comprehend.

These frequent references by Jesus show us that the purpose for which he had come into the world was now laying heavily upon his heart and his mind. The hour of his life’s mission was fast approaching.

It would entail sorrow, but it was in no fearful mood that he set out to meet it. In a very graphic pen picture both Jesus and his followers, and here we’re reading from Mark 10:32 as they set out on this last stage of the fateful journey, we’re told, and they were in the way going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was actually separated from the company. He went before them.

And as they followed, they were afraid.

Fear made them hesitant, so they lagged behind. Our Lord, for whom this moment was so fraught with destiny, set his face to go up to Jerusalem without hesitation. The shadow of the cross lay over the life of the man of sorrows from that moment of glory on Mount Hermon slopes, till he hung between heaven and earth outside the gate of the city and gave his life.

Evidently the disciples could feel the force of this deep solemnity, for Mark says they were amazed as Jesus led them in the way.

And while in this intense mood, what happened? A rich young ruler came to ask Jesus by what means he could get eternal life. Cross bearing and self renunciation had been Jesus constant theme during all the southward journey from Hermon to Judea. Hence this young man, so apparently in earnest, asked so direct a question. Jesus gave him no less a direct answer.

Sell all that is, surrender all. Jesus is now on the threshold of giving all, giving all and death that others might live. The young man turned away sorrowfully, preferring the riches of this world.

And Jesus sighed inwardly as the young man went his way. Jesus said, how hardly shall they that have riches enter the kingdom of God. In other words, how difficult it is for anyone to make the best of both worlds, and hearing this remark, Peter, bless his heart, said, Lord, how does this statement affect our position? We have not hesitated to leave all and follow you.

What shall we have therefore, when the kingdom which we preach is established? And to Peter, Jesus makes a reply. No man that hath left all father, mother, wife, children, houses and lands for my sake shall lose by his sacrifice. He shall get a hundredfold in return, and shall most certainly inherit eternal life. Moreover, you which have followed me in the day of regeneration, when I, the Son of man, sit on the throne of my glory, you shall sit upon each one of you on a throne.

Judging the 12 tribes of Israel, they who, like the young ruler, have been first in this present order, shall be last in the honors of my kingdom, and they that have been last and least shall then be first. This word of assurance must have been encouraging and comforting to the disciples. With Jesus here was something they could really grasp and understand, was not enigmatic and baffling, like the references to his death and resurrection.

And presumably the disciples talked it over among themselves, and we find a lesson taught in the last days of our Lord’s ministry, when a doting mother brought her two sons and with some show of respect, desired to speak privately to Jesus. What’s your request? Asked Jesus. Grant that these my two sons may sit one on thy right hand and one on thy left hand in the kingdom.

Matthew 20:21 Jesus looked them straight in the face, and he said, you don’t know what you’re asking.

You do not realize what’s implied or involved in this request.

You may have followed me in Galilee and in Judea. You may have left your boats and your employment for my sake, but following me means more than this, as I have recently been telling you of my death, and that I have come not merely to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom. But to die and to suffer at the hands of cruel men. I ask you now, are you prepared to follow me in all this? Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of?

Are you able to be baptized with the baptism that I already have been baptized with? Will you follow me through death and humiliation and rejection and to be cut off from your people and from your family?

Of course, they replied, we’ll follow you. Even there we are able. Thus expressing a deep fidelity to him and his mission in life.

He said, then you shall indeed drink of my cup. You shall be baptized with my baptism. But even then I cannot grant you the request to sit one on either side of me. That’s not my gift. It’s my Father’s prerogative to give those positions to those whom they’ve been prepared for by Him.

Will you follow me, not knowing what place or position you’ll get? Will you drink of my cup and leave all else to the Father? Can you step out, not minding what your reward will be? Only that as you share my cup of suffering, you will also share my cup of joy?

Well, for this reason, Jesus referred to this cup as representing the blood of the New Testament or the New Covenant. This was the beginning of the work of the selection and training of those who Paul refers to as able ministers of the New Testament, the New Covenant. These are the footstep followers of the Lamb. By the Lord’s grace, you and me, who are shaped for this future work with Jesus of uplifting blessing and reconciling the entire world of mankind to God, then shall all see the fullness of those words repeated in prayers. Thy kingdom come.

When we partake of the memorial emblems, we are not only reminded of the riches of God’s grace to us, but we are expressing our faith and our hope in God’s purpose to extend the blessings of life through Christ to all mankind. During the millennial age now, drinking blood was forbidden both by the law given to Noah that incorporates all of us and by the Jewish law. For the blood represented life. The blood of the animals sacrificed under the law was poured back into the dust of the earth from which it come. This pointed forward to the precious blood of Jesus, our Redeemer, as the purchaser of this earth.

And yet how strange it must have seemed to the disciples when Jesus told them that unless they drink his blood, they would have no life in them.

In the memorial, Jesus wanted to emphasize to his disciples that they must drink his blood if they were to have life. So it is that when we drink of the cup, it’s with deep appreciation of the gracious privilege that’s been extended to us of being crucified with Christ and our prospect for sharing in the hope of his resurrection, and it’s with appreciation of this glorious privilege that can best be expressed to the Lord by a renewal of our determination to fulfill our vows of consecration and to let nothing stand in the way of being faithful unto death.

Yet it was with a word of encouragement that our Lord ended this memorial night as they walked through the cool air to the garden of Gethsemane. These things have I spoken unto you that my joy may be in you, that your joy may be filled full. This is my commandment that you love one another even as I have loved you.

And now let us partake of the emblems.

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it and break it and gave it to the disciples and said, take, eat. This is my body. We’ve asked for Brother Joe Miguel to offer a word of prayer on the bread.

Dear Heavenly Father, we are gathered here tonight and also with thy children the world over, to bow before thee and thank thee for the sacrifice of thy Son to be the world’s Redeemer. We thank thee for thy provision of this bread representing primarily our Lord, the antitypical Passover lamb and his broken body, and as thy Son himself declared. We see in this bread an emblem of his flesh, his body broken for us and for all mankind as the ransom sacrifice which takes away the sins of the world. We also thank thee for the privilege we have of receiving in advance of the world the justification his ransom sacrifice affords so that we can present our justified bodies as living sacrifices to be broken with him.

As members of that one bread. We thank thee for the heart communion with our Lord and with all the fellow members of that one body which our eating of this bread tonight signifies. We pray thy blessing on our partaking of this bread that we may realize an ever increasing appreciation of the meaning of our daily joint sacrifice with him and with each other, which this bread symbolizes. In Jesus name, Amen.

And he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them, saying, drink ye all of it. We’ve asked Brother Tom Ricciarello to say a prayer on the cup.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the privilege of coming into the hallowed presence once again. We thank you for the complete sacrifice of your son. Not only was he willing to sacrifice his life, but also to come to this world and suffer to be crucified to be ridiculed, to be hated, to suffer hunger and thirst for all reasons of your kingdom. We thank you for his willing heart, that he was so obedient that he was willing to come and give his life and sacrifice for this world. We thank you for the hope that it engenders in us the good that is coming all the world when your name and your son’s name will be honored.

We pray for your guidance that we may follow faithfully in his footsteps to be so willing to suffer and die in whatever way you choose for us. We thank you for the privilege of serving you and being called, and we look forward to the glorious day when all the world will honor you and your son as you richly deserve. We pray this all in Jesus name. Amen.

Well, as we close our simple service tonight, first we’d like to observe that there are emblems available for those that are shut in. If you’re serving them, those are on the table up here in the front. Feel free to take those. Second, keeping with the solemnity of this occasion, even though there are dear ones that we may not have seen frequently, let’s close with the hymn and then proceed with silence as we go to our cars. We’re not going to close with one of the psalms that’s called the Songs of Degrees that would have been not used in Jesus’s day and would be used today amongst the Jews.

But we will close, as they close this first night at the memorial, by singing a hymn without being dismissed with prayer. We read, and when they had sung in him, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

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