Remembering Jesus - Part 1 of 1

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One for the Sunday edition and one for the daily edition. Search Baptist Bible Hour on your favorite podcast platform and sign up for both programs today. The Baptist Bible Hour now comes to you under the direction of Elder Lacerre Bradley Jr. This is Lacerre Bradley Jr. inviting you to stay tuned for another message of God's sovereign grace. There in shame and softly brood, In my place of him He stood, Sealed my pardon with His blood, Hallelujah, what a Savior! Guilty, vile, and helpless we, Songless Lamb of God was He, Full atonement can it be, Hallelujah, what a Savior! Lifted up was He to die, In His image was His cry, Now in heaven exalted high, Hallelujah, what a Savior! When He comes, our glorious King, All His ransom home to bring, Then anew this song we'll sing, Hallelujah, what a Savior! Hallelujah, what a Savior! I want to thank each of you who have written us recently and those who have helped to support the program both by way of sending in a donation and going to the website.

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We hope that you will visit the website soon. The message today is entitled, Remembering Jesus. 1 Corinthians chapter 11 verse 24. This due in remembrance of me. This is a message that was preached before the church came together for the observance of the Lord's Supper.

We're using a portion of it on the air. If you would like to get the complete message on CD, request it when writing us at the Baptist Bible Hour, Box 17037, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217. We first consider the need to remember and then how we are to remember and what we are to remember. We begin the message considering that we are coming together to celebrate the Lord's death and that we are in fellowship with one another. We are to come together.

We come to have communion with fellow believers and we are to come prepared. Verse 28 of 1 Corinthians 11 says, But let a man examine himself. It doesn't say to examine other people, but examine yourself. That sometimes is very difficult to do. To really look deep within and pray for the assistance of the Holy Spirit to guide you so that you can see your own failings, your own sins. This is depressing.

I don't think I want to pursue this any farther. We're not talking about examining ourselves that we might be driven to despair, but examining ourselves that we may confess our sins and forsake them. If we fail to do that, we partake of the Lord's Supper unworthily. Now I've had people say sometimes, well I'm not going to stay for communion because I'm not worthy. Well let me tell you the fact is, none of us are worthy. None of us are worthy to say, I believe I'm entitled to sit at the Lord's table.

When it says that we must not partake of it unworthily, it's not speaking of an adjective to describe us, but an adverb to describe the manner in which we partake of it. If we have not first prepared by confessing our sins, asking the Lord to forgive us, then we partake of it unworthily and that can bring about some very dark scenes. He said that some of these in the church at Corinth were sick and some had died because of their neglect to examine themselves and to come appropriately to the Lord's table. We must come loving the Lord and loving his people. You can't declare the Lord's death by sitting at his table while despising his people.

You have to have love, love for one another. If there's malice, if there's bitterness against anyone, it must be confessed and rooted out. Oh, if you have to recognize, Lord this is a sin that plagues me, I'm weak, I'm troubled by it, may you even now prepare yourself by saying, Lord, cleanse me, forgive me, wash me, and give me grace in the days ahead. To put all of that behind me is to be no malice, no bitterness against anybody. It must be confessed and rooted out. Any feeling of superiority, any pride where you feel I'm above someone who is in poor circumstances. I'm above someone who's not quite on the social plane that I occupy. I'm above someone who may have fallen into great sin, but they've confessed it and they've forsaken it.

If there's pride, it needs to be rooted out, confessed, and forgiven. And then, in coming properly to his table, we must come with a thankful heart. First Corinthians 11 24, and when he had given thanks, he'd break it and said, take, eat, this is my body which is broken for you, this do in remembrance of me. Jesus gave thanks when he broke the bread. And in Matthew chapter 26 verse 27, it says, and he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying, drink ye all of it.

So both with the bread and the cup, he gave thanks. May we assemble with thankful hearts, thankful for his sacrificial death, thankful for his wonderful grace that has rescued us, thankful for the abundance of blessings that he continues to share upon us on a daily basis, coming with a thankful heart. And then, what are we to remember? This do in remembrance of me.

For remembering him, we're primarily focused on his death, but I think it's in order that we should remember his life, remember his birth. What a glorious event that was. The angelic host singing glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men. Those shepherds following the star and coming there to see the place where Jesus was resting. Later those wise men coming. Old Simeon who had been waiting, coming in, holding Jesus in his infancy and said, mine eyes have seen thy salvation, now let thy servant depart in peace.

What a glorious thing. The angels of heaven were observing it and singing it. Oh, how could it be that God would become a man, born of a virgin, a perfect man, and yet he was God. And then we see him at his baptism. The voice of the father was heard from heaven, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. And then he embarks upon his ministry, healing the sick. The word was spread and people were gathering, wanting to come near where he was because there was no disease but what he could heal it.

He sometimes spoke the word. One woman was healed as she pressed through the crowd and touched the hem of his garment. The blind man had clay put on his eyes and so in a variety of ways Jesus moved about healing.

Think what it was for that man who was born blind, had never seen the light of day, had never seen the beauties of nature, had never seen his parents and now his eyes are open and he's able to see. Oh, what a miracle, what a blessing, what a blessing. And then the man who comes to Jesus and said, my son is possessed of an evil spirit, it cast him into the fire, it's a dreadful thing. And Jesus delivered him from that bondage.

Oh, what a change, what a difference. And those special events, when the multitudes were gathered, the disciples were concerned, what are we going to do? We're out here in the wilderness, evening is coming on, they have nothing to eat, we have no way to provide for them. And Jesus blesses the loaves and fishes and gives the blessing to the disciples to have the people set in companies of fifties and hundreds and they go passing it out, it must have been an exciting event, can you imagine those apostles passing out bread, passing out bread and the basket never got empty, they just kept passing it out and there was plenty for everybody and then when they were finished there was plenty left over.

Oh, what a day to be with Jesus as they sat on the green grass feeding from what he had provided. And then when those disciples were in the ship out on the sea, they were right where Jesus wanted them to be, he had constrained them to get on the ship, he had a purpose in this and the storm was coming and they were fearful and they were rowing and they were rowing hard and they were working diligently but they were making no progress. But Jesus comes walking on the water and at first they're afraid but he says, be not afraid, it is I.

No doubt many of us have had those times in life when we felt like we were in a terrible storm. We were on the troubled sea, we were fearful but the Lord came to us and said, be not afraid, it is I. He's the only one that can help us in those times of greatest storm. He's the one that has to give us strength.

He's the one that says, peace, be still. Now through all of this Jesus was criticized by the Pharisees, slandered saying that he was a wine bibber, saying that he cast out devils in the name of Beelzebub. Oh what terrible accusations to be brought against the only perfect man that ever met, the son of God here upon this earth. But he endured it. He endured it all. And then we think of that occasion when he went to the tomb of a dear friend. He had had many blessed times in the home of Lazarus and Mary and Martha. And now these sisters are deeply grieved.

Our brother has died. They go to the tomb and Jesus says, roll the stone away. Oh they said, master, by this time he's already started to decay. The order will be terrible.

It doesn't seem advisable. But in obedience the stone was rolled away. And Jesus said, Lazarus, come forth. And Lazarus got up and walked out of the tomb. Confirming for us that one day he'll come back with the shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the dead in Christ arise first. Wherever they may be, those that died at sea and their bodies sunk to the depth of the ocean, those that were consumed by fire, those whose graves have long been unmarked, those will be raised by his mighty voice in the day of resurrection.

Let's remember his life. And let's remember him eating the Passover on the very night before he was betrayed. Luke chapter 22 verse 15. And he said unto them with desire, I have desired to eat the Passover with you before I suffer.

Now the disciples still hadn't gotten full grasp of what was going on. But Jesus knew full well the time was at hand. He had come for this purpose to go to the cross and he was going to willingly lay down his life. So before I suffer, I want to have the Passover with you. For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

Oh, it gives them something positive to look toward. But I wanted to eat the Passover with you. I can't help but imagine that after the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus that the disciples sometimes talked about that night. It wasn't that special that we sat there at the table with Jesus. He gave us the bread to eat and the wine to drink. Oh, what joy to be in his company. What a privilege it is to sit at his table. It's something that was instituted by Jesus himself. And so therefore, every Christian should want to participate. Where else would you want to be when the church has come together and they sit together at the Lord's table? What a privilege, what a joy.

It would never be something we would want to neglect. And not only do we remember his life, we remember his death. He was betrayed with a kiss. They came with swords and staves and lanterns and took him away like he was a terrible criminal.

They made false accusations in the trial. Some spit on him, some hit him in the face, some pulled out his beard. They put a crown of thorns down upon his head and mocked him as though his claim to be the king of the Jews was absurd. Ultimately, they nailed him to the cross. It was a painful death. Nails in his hands and in his feet. Stretched out there, at first with the hot sun beating down, finally the darkness came.

They gave him vinegar to drink. What agony. He dreaded it particularly because of the burden that would be his when all the sins of all of its people of all ages would be put upon him and he would bear in that time the suffering that they would then not have to suffer. Oh, how the hearts of his followers were heavy and grieved when they saw Jesus hanging on the cross, dying. But, as we remember his death, there's an element of joy in it because we remember that his death gives hope to sinners.

We can't help but feel something of the pain and agony to think of him being crucified and suffering, but when you realize that it's because of his perfect sacrifice that you as a sinner have salvation, you rejoice in it. Isaiah chapter 44 verse 22, I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions and as a cloud thy sins. Return unto me, for I have redeemed thee. Sing, O ye heavens, for the Lord hath done it.

Shout ye lower parts of the earth. Break forth into singing ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein, for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob and glorified himself in Israel. Is that not enough to make you rejoice, to believe that he has blotted out your sin, that great cloud, that to be found no more he has cast them into the depths of the sea? Sin is a horrendous thing. Guilt is a horrible burden to carry, but because of his perfect sacrifice, because of his substitutionary death, if you're a believer in Jesus, your sins have been put away. Remembering his death gives hope to sinners. Remembering his death can bring us comfort. Remember that he was tempted in all points like as we are yet without sin, and now he's our great high priest who ever lives and has sympathy for us and makes intercession for us. The one who suffered persecution, the one who endured such terrible hiding from his enemies, is able to support us in our times of persecution. He's the one who comforted his disciples.

He knew what they were going to be facing. And so in advance, he says in John chapter 16 of the 20th verse, Verily, verily, I say unto you that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice. When I've been crucified, you're going to weep, you're going to be in sorrow, but the world's going to rejoice. They're going to feel like they have conquered me. They're going to feel like they have won the battle. Ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

What a blessing. They would have the deepest sorrow possible, but it wouldn't last. Following the resurrection, that sorrow was turned into joy. So as we remember his death, we remember that it gives hope to sinners. We remember that it gives comfort to us in our times of distress.

And remember, the best is yet to come. First Corinthians 11 26, For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do shew forth the Lord's death till he come. So when you sit at the table, you're not only saying, I believe Jesus Christ died at Calvary. I believe he shed his blood for sinners. I believe he died for me and I'm trusting him.

But you're also saying, I believe he's coming back. You observe this until he comes. Isn't that a wonderful thought? How often do we keep that in our minds as we ought?

It kind of slips away. Somebody reminds us, oh yes, I believe in the second coming of Christ. But oh, what it would mean to us if we had that always in our focus. He that hath this hope in himself purifies himself, even as he is pure, looking forward to that great day. There's coming a time that there will be the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Something that's hard for us to grasp. I think that we as fallen sinners, rescued by his grace, washed in his blood, his righteousness imputed to us are now a part of his bride. And that there's coming that great day of the feast as described in Revelation 19 verse 6.

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude and the voice of many waters and the voice of mighty thundering saying hallelujah for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made herself ready and to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. Oh, you look at yourself and say I don't have any righteousness. No, but you'll be clothed in fine linen, the righteousness of the saints and where do they get it? It's the righteousness of Jesus Christ that's credited to their account, imputed to them.

So you stand in his presence pure and clean without spot. What a time that will be, the marriage supper of the Lamb, what a feast, what a day of rejoicing. Oh, it was a happy time when those disciples saw Jesus after the resurrection and knew he's alive. Death had not conquered him. He came and spoke sweetly, gently and comfortingly to them.

And then when he was on his way back, he ascended to heaven and the angel said, why stand you gazing? This same Jesus that you see going away is going to come back. Here's the promise of his return and he will return and there will be this great happy time when at last we're with him. The day will come when our labors are ended and our weary waiting is over and we'll be present with the Lord rejoicing in his salvation, in his grace forever and ever.

No more sin, no more tears, no more heartaches, eternal joy, eternal bliss married to Jesus Christ. Yes, as we celebrate the Lord's Supper, let us consider what he says. This do in remembrance of me. Look to the cross. Remember what he did. Look with joy at what he did.

Look with joy and anticipation for his return and for the glory that awaits us on the other side. And let me say to you today who have never believed on Jesus, I hope that as we've talked about him, as we've talked about his wonderful life, as we've talked about his sacrificial death, as we've talked about his victorious resurrection, that you could say, yes, he's the Savior I need. I know I'm a sinner.

I have nothing to offer. I have no righteousness to plead, nothing, but I come to Jesus just as I am. May you've never come to him. May you come to him today. This do in remembrance of me.

We have so many wonderful things to remember when we think about our Savior Jesus Christ and what he accomplished when he came here to this earth to save sinners, went to the cross, suffered in their stead, arose from the dead, declaring his victory over sin, Satan, and death. If you would like to get this complete message entitled Remembering Jesus, request it when you write us. Till next week at this same time, may the Lord richly bless you all. The Baptist Bible Hour has come to you under the direction of Elder LeSaire Bradley, Jr. Address all mail to the Baptist Bible Hour, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217.

That's the Baptist Bible Hour, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217. Just as I am, thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, part, unclench, relieve, because thy promise I believe. O Lamb of God, I come. I come. I come.