Keep On Remembering

Today’s lesson continues studies in Luke. In Chapter 22, we see three very much related events: The Lord’s Supper followed by the Disciples’ not getting it at all and arguing over who would be the greatest. This is followed by Peter’s statement of how faithful he would be for Jesus and Jesus reminding him that Satan want him and that he in fact, would fall three before “the cock crows.” We’ll see later why these are so interrelated.

The Supper Is More Than a Ritual (Luke 22:14-20). See [da Vinci’s Famous “Last Supper]

Communion, Lord's Supper, and Eucharist: All are traditional names for the observance commemorating Jesus' death. Baptists believe that there are two “ordinances” because, while other churches honor more, we traditionally find that only two are mentioned in the Bible: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We refer to these acts as “ordinances” because they were “ordained” by Christ, Himself. See Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24,25. Those churches that believe these to be “sacraments” believe that their observance confers grace upon those who observe it. We see them, rather as symbols, powerful symbols, but symbols nonetheless.


There are two different names, which are often used to identify the Lord’s Supper. Some refer it as the “Eucharist” -- which means, “to give thanks”. Before Christ broke the bread, He gave thanks. (This established another tradition of remembrance.) It also means that we are “giving thanks” to God for sending His Son to pay the price for our sins.

Some churches call it “Communion”. This is our English translation of the NT Greek word, koinonia, which means, “fellowship or having things in common, hence our “fellowship suppers.” What we call it is not as important as why we observe it. When He instituted the “Lord’s Supper,” that night, Christ taught His disciples and by extension, us a number of things. Nevertheless, the concept of “communion” runs through the whole of Luke Chapter 22.

Together. What they did, they did together, and it was all in common. Luke 22:14. They were a family. So must we be. We need to remember that because without Christ we have no rudder and without each other, we have no oars. A racing boat without a rudder and oars is not only directionless but it is also powerless. If that describes us, then we are destined to be like Wagner’s “Flying Dutchman” who was condemned to sail the seas forever and never be able to come to port.

Earnest Desire for Us. Christ says in v.15 that he “earnestly desired” to share this with them. A literal translation of the word is “lusted.” “Of course today, “lust” has a very singular and negative connotation, but it nevertheless, describes God’s desire for us and our fellowship. It is the prime reason for His creation of man, in my opinion. Thus, His love for us is a consuming passion. Ours for Him should be reciprocal. Likewise, our passion ( and here I won’t use “lust”) for each other is that each of us comes into that fellowship with Him.

“Broken and Spilled Out.” We all know that the bread and the wine represent His body and blood, “broken and spilled out,” in the words of the Gaithers. But note in v. 17 that these two extremely powerful symbols are to be likewise “given” to be shared by the group [us.] Yet another reaffirmation of His message that we are all in this together – Peter, James, John and you, me and Christ.

[Matt Cooper’s “Spilled Wine”]

“Remember Me, I’m the One Who Loves You.” By comparison, the Dean Martin song is trite compared to the love of Christ. But the messages ring harmoniously.

Christ says that when we reenact the Lord’s Supper, we join again into the koinonia that empowers us to live our daily lives. More so though, continual remembrance of Him and His sacrifice sets us streaking through the rough waters like the team members of the famous Cambridge and Oxford Boat racers pictured below.



Greatness Comes Through Serving (Luke 22:24-27)
But alas, the Disciples didn’t get it. While the symbolism of His act had meaning to them, they soon forgot it. Can you imagine that – they forgot what Christ had just taught them about being all in this together. We would never do that would we – would we? Ten minutes and three verses later (v.27,) Luke [who wasn’t there, remember] tells us that they devolve into a discussion of exactly who would have the highest office in the new kingdom.

There are three points they missed here. First, there wasn’t going to be a kingdom like they thought – it would be vastly differently – a kingdom of the heart, not a kingdom of the body. He told them that, but it seemed to pass by some how. It’s easy to “not get it” when you don’t want to get it, isn’t it?

Secondly, even if there were going to be some earthly kingdom [which there wasn’t] there would be no greater and lesser people. It takes Peter until Acts 10 to figure out that “God us no respecter of persons.” Paul echoes, “All have sinned. . .” There is no first or last. We are brothers and sisters with God as our Father.

Lastly, assuming arguendo that there would be an Earthly kingdom and that there would be “firsts” and “not firsts” in authority, we still are bound together in that common koinonia, the fellowship of us all – and we are back in the canoe without a paddle. That is what Christ said to remember. All those things, but the fellowship overarching it all.

Satan Wants You to Fail (Luke 22:31-34).
Is it possible for us to remember in the words of the Shema to “love God” and with Jesus’ addition, to “love our neighbor as ourselves?” That is to say, can we in our own strength live in the fellowship that is required to experience the life God has for us? What do you think? Peter tells us that Satan is a “roaring lion” on the prowl just waiting for us to try to do this in our own strength. When we do [note: when not if] we will invariably deny Christ at least three times before the cock crows. And when we hear the cock crowing, Satan will point out our failure just to rub it in. This failure breaks the fellowship, not only with God but with man as well.

[Carl Bloch’s “Peter’s Denial”]

Now for the Good News. The Good News is that Christ intends for this fellowship to be unbroken and He stands more than “ready, willing and able,” rather He stands “lusting,” if I may use that word here, to restore us to fellowship as He did Peter by the Sea of Galilee. And this is something would should remember, too.

So, when we take the Lord’s Supper, Communion, we have a lot to think about, but like so many things Christ has commanded us, that “thinking about” is for our own benefit. Let’s challenge each other to take a fresh look at the Lord’s Supper and remember . . .