In Memory... A Study of Two Memorials. Fifty Days The night of the last Passover was the night that Jesus was arrested, tried, sentenced, and put to death

In Memory . . .In Memory . . .

A Study of Two A Study of Two MemorialsMemorials

Fifty DaysFifty Days

The night of the last Passover was the night that Jesus was arrested, tried,

sentenced, and put to death.


Three days later, on the following first day of the

week, Jesus arose from the grave.


During the forty days following the Passover,

Jesus appeared to over 500 people.


At the end of forty days, Jesus gave instructions to

His apostles and then ascended into Heaven.


Ten days after Jesus' ascension, the apostles

received the Holy Spirit as promised by Jesus.


With the aid of the Holy Spirit, the apostles began to preach Jesus Christ. 3,000

people obeyed and the Lord added them to His church.

Memorial ObservedMemorial Observed Now that Jesus' church was Now that Jesus' church was

established, the saints began to established, the saints began to faithfully worship the Lord, observing faithfully worship the Lord, observing the memorial feast instituted by Jesus the memorial feast instituted by Jesus Christ.Christ.

Memorial ObservedMemorial Observed Example #1: Acts 2:41-42Example #1: Acts 2:41-42

““Then those who gladly received his word Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.”thousand souls were added to them.” Act 2:41Act 2:41

““And they continued steadfastly in the And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayersbreaking of bread, and in prayers.”.” Act 2:42Act 2:42


““They” They” = the 3,000 souls - those whom the = the 3,000 souls - those whom the Lord had added to the church.Lord had added to the church. cf. Acts 2:47cf. Acts 2:47

““continued steadfastly” continued steadfastly” = to continue = to continue without fail and on a consistent basis.without fail and on a consistent basis.



““apostle's doctrine” = apostle's doctrine” = the inspired the inspired teachings of the apostles.teachings of the apostles. The Christians continued steadfastly in The Christians continued steadfastly in

the apostles doctrine. They gave great the apostles doctrine. They gave great devotion to adhere to those things taught devotion to adhere to those things taught by the apostles.by the apostles.



““fellowship” = fellowship” = fellowship, association, fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation.community, communion, joint participation. The Christians continued in that common The Christians continued in that common

ground of spiritual fellowship, being all ground of spiritual fellowship, being all members of that one body of Christ. members of that one body of Christ.



““breaking of bread” = breaking of bread” = context points to the context points to the memorial feast established by Jesus where memorial feast established by Jesus where He “broke bread.” He “broke bread.” Apostles doctrine, fellowship, prayersApostles doctrine, fellowship, prayers See verse 46 where context is different, is See verse 46 where context is different, is

a common meal.a common meal.



““in prayers” = in prayers” = the saints continued in the saints continued in offering up prayers to God.offering up prayers to God. Grouping prayers with the apostles' Grouping prayers with the apostles'

doctrine, fellowship, and breaking of doctrine, fellowship, and breaking of bread places worship as the context.bread places worship as the context.

Memorial ObservedMemorial Observed Example #2: Acts 20:7Example #2: Acts 20:7

““Now on the first day of the week, when Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.” until midnight.” Act 20:7Act 20:7


““on the first day of the week” on the first day of the week” = the first = the first day of the week was the day the Lord arose day of the week was the day the Lord arose from the grave. This was the day to worship from the grave. This was the day to worship the Lord.the Lord. The saints in Corinth assembled on the The saints in Corinth assembled on the

first day of the week. cf. first day of the week. cf. 1 Cor 16:1-21 Cor 16:1-2


““the disciples” the disciples” = Christians, saints, = Christians, saints, followers of Jesus Christfollowers of Jesus Christ

““came together” = came together” = to assemble together, to to assemble together, to draw togetherdraw together The saints, the disciples, the Christians The saints, the disciples, the Christians

assembled together on the first day of the assembled together on the first day of the week for a specific purpose. What was week for a specific purpose. What was that purpose?that purpose?


““to break bread” to break bread” = to break bread as did = to break bread as did Jesus – the memorial feastJesus – the memorial feast The saints were assembled.The saints were assembled. First day of the week (same day of Jesus' First day of the week (same day of Jesus'

resurrection)resurrection) Paul was preaching.Paul was preaching. This is the same as seen in Acts 2:42.This is the same as seen in Acts 2:42.

Memorial ObservedMemorial Observed Example #3: 1 Cor 10:16Example #3: 1 Cor 10:16

““The cup of blessing which we bless, is it The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of not the communion of the body of Christ?”Christ?” 1 Cor 10:161 Cor 10:16

Memorial ObservedMemorial Observed Example #3: 1 Cor 10:16Example #3: 1 Cor 10:16

““The cup of blessing . . . the communion The cup of blessing . . . the communion of the blood of Christ” of the blood of Christ” Compare to Luke 22:20Compare to Luke 22:20

““The bread which we break . . . the The bread which we break . . . the communion of the body of Christ?”communion of the body of Christ?” Compare Luke 22:19Compare Luke 22:19

All Christians participate or share in the All Christians participate or share in the partaking of the cup and the bread.partaking of the cup and the bread.

Memorial ObservedMemorial Observed Example #4: 1 Cor 11:20, 23-30Example #4: 1 Cor 11:20, 23-30

““Therefore when you come together in Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper.” Supper.” 1 Cor 11:201 Cor 11:20 Paul uses the phrase "the Lord's supper" Paul uses the phrase "the Lord's supper"

to refer to the memorial instituted by to refer to the memorial instituted by Jesus Christ prior to His death.Jesus Christ prior to His death.


““For I received from the Lord that which For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;” betrayed took bread;” 1 Cor 11:231 Cor 11:23 The Lord had given Paul instructions The Lord had given Paul instructions

regarding the night He was betrayed.regarding the night He was betrayed.


““and when He had given thanks, He and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'” remembrance of Me.'” 1 Cor 11:241 Cor 11:24 Regarding the bread, Paul reminds the Regarding the bread, Paul reminds the

brethren that Jesus commanded, “do this brethren that Jesus commanded, “do this in remembrance of Me.”in remembrance of Me.”


““In the same manner He also took the In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.'” Me.'” 1 Cor 11:251 Cor 11:25 Regarding the cup, Paul reminded the Regarding the cup, Paul reminded the

brethren that Jesus commanded, “This do, brethren that Jesus commanded, “This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”of me.”


““For as often as you eat this bread and For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.” death till He comes.” 1 Cor 11:261 Cor 11:26 As often as Christians eat the bread and As often as Christians eat the bread and

drink the cup, they “proclaim the Lord's drink the cup, they “proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.”death till He comes.”

To proclaim – to announce, declare, make To proclaim – to announce, declare, make known, publishknown, publish


““Therefore whoever eats this bread or Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.” body and blood of the Lord.” 1 Cor 11:271 Cor 11:27 To eat and drink in an unworthy manner To eat and drink in an unworthy manner

is to show disrespect to the Lord's Supper is to show disrespect to the Lord's Supper by not observing it as a memorial feast. by not observing it as a memorial feast.

It must proclaim the Lord's death to the It must proclaim the Lord's death to the person who is eating and drinking.person who is eating and drinking.


““But let a man examine himself, and so But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” cup.” 1 Cor 11:281 Cor 11:28 The elements are designed for a specific The elements are designed for a specific

purpose.purpose. The individual Christian must give careful The individual Christian must give careful

consideration to himself as to the how and consideration to himself as to the how and the why of the memorial feast.the why of the memorial feast.


““For he who eats and drinks in an For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.Lord's body.” ” 1 Cor 11:291 Cor 11:29 The memorial feast sets apart the body The memorial feast sets apart the body

and blood of Christ in his death.and blood of Christ in his death. The individual must give attention to the The individual must give attention to the

death of Jesus Christ. This is the purpose death of Jesus Christ. This is the purpose of the memorial feast. of the memorial feast.


““For this reason many are weak and sick For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.among you, and many sleep.” ” 1 Cor 11:301 Cor 11:30 The church in Corinth had ceased to The church in Corinth had ceased to

observe the Lord's Supper as a memorial observe the Lord's Supper as a memorial feast—a feast designed to remind saints of feast—a feast designed to remind saints of Jesus' death. Jesus' death.

As a result, some were spiritually weak As a result, some were spiritually weak and sick, and some were spiritually dead.and sick, and some were spiritually dead.

The LessonThe Lesson The Passover feast was to remind the The Passover feast was to remind the

Israelites of their deliverance. This Israelites of their deliverance. This was to be a yearly observance.was to be a yearly observance.

Jesus Christ instituted a feast to Jesus Christ instituted a feast to remind Christians of His death, their remind Christians of His death, their deliverance from sin. deliverance from sin.

Paul calls this “the Lord's Supper.” Paul calls this “the Lord's Supper.” The saints observed this memorial The saints observed this memorial

feast on the first day of the week.feast on the first day of the week.

The LessonThe Lesson It is crucial that you and I give our It is crucial that you and I give our

attention and focus to the death of attention and focus to the death of Jesus Christ every time we partake of Jesus Christ every time we partake of the memorial feast.the memorial feast.

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In Memory... A Study of Two Memorials. Fifty Days The night of the last Passover was the night that Jesus was arrested, tried, sentenced, and put to death