THE MEMORIALS OF THE CROSS FOR THE CHURCH

Naim Choir, Intercultural Site Pastor

“For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.” (1 Corinthians 11:26, NLT)

What is one thing a follower of Jesus should never forget?

When someone asks us a question like this, we may pause because there are so many things we could say. Whether you have been attending church for years or are just beginning your journey of faith, this question challenges us to think about what is truly at the center of our lives. What is something we should never lose sight of, no matter how busy life becomes?

We live in a world where we are constantly encouraged to remember. We take pictures to remember special moments, celebrate anniversaries to remember important milestones, and create memorials to remember people and events that have shaped our lives. But for the Christian, there is one event we must never forget: the cross of Jesus Christ.

Dear RockPointe family, the cross is not simply a historical event we remember once a year. It is at the very heart of our faith. At the cross, we see the depth of God’s love, the seriousness of sin, the cost of our salvation, and the incredible grace offered to us through Jesus Christ.

So, how does the church remember the cross?

Throughout Scripture, we see two important practices that continually point believers back to what Christ has done: BAPTISM and COMMUNION. These are not merely religious traditions or ceremonies. They point us to Jesus and remind us who we are because of Him.

Paul writes, “Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death?” (Romans 6:3, NLT).

Have you ever thought about what baptism is really saying?

Baptism is more than a public declaration. It is a powerful picture of our union with Christ. As we go into the water, we are reminded of Christ’s death and burial. As we come out of the water, we are reminded of His resurrection and the new life we have received through Him. Paul continues, “For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.” (Romans 6:4, NLT)

Baptism reminds us that following Jesus means leaving our old life behind and embracing a new life in Christ. It is a visible expression of faith, a declaration that our identity is no longer defined by our past, our failures, or our circumstances, but by Jesus Christ.

But the church does not remember the cross only through baptism. We also remember through communion.

When Jesus shared the Last Supper with His disciples, He took the bread and said, “…This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24-25, NIV)

Why did Jesus tell His followers to remember?

Because we are prone to forget. We can become so busy with work, family, responsibilities, and the challenges of everyday life that we lose sight of what matters most. We can become so focused on what we need, what we want, and what we are facing that we forget what Jesus has already done for us. Communion calls us back to the cross.

Every time we receive the bread and the cup, we are reminded that our salvation came at a great cost. The bread reminds us of Christ’s body given for us, and the cup reminds us of His blood shed for us. We remember not simply that Jesus died, but that He willingly gave Himself so that we could receive forgiveness, reconciliation, and new life.

Paul says, “For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.” (1 Corinthians 11:26, NLT)

Notice those final words: “until he comes again.”

Communion does not only cause us to look back; it also causes us to look ahead. We look back with gratitude at what Jesus has done, look up in worship to the One who gave His life for us, and look ahead with anticipation because Jesus promised that He will come again.

What a beautiful picture of the Christian life: we look back, we look up, and we look ahead.

The early church understood the importance of remembering. Acts 2:42 tells us that the believers devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, the Lord’s Supper, and prayer. Acts 20:7 also tells us that believers gathered together to share in the Lord’s Supper.

Why was remembering so important to them? Because the church needed to keep Jesus at the center.

And we need to do the same. As a church family at RockPointe, we come from many different cultures, languages, backgrounds, and life experiences. We may have different stories and traditions, but when we gather around the cross, we are reminded that what unites us is greater than what separates us.

We have one Savior, one Lord, one cross, and one hope.

The cross calls us to gratitude, unity, humility, worship, and a life that reflects Jesus.

So, let me ask you: When was the last time you stopped and truly remembered what Jesus has done for you? Have the pressures of life caused you to forget the grace that first brought you to Jesus?

As we participate in baptism, we remember Christ’s death and resurrection. As we receive communion, we remember His body given for us and His blood shed for us. And as we gather together as His church, we remember that Jesus remains the center of our faith, our worship, our mission, and our hope.

And there is one more thing we remember: He is coming again.

As we partake in communion this week, may we slow down and truly remember not simply the bread and the cup, but the Savior who gave Himself for us. May we look back with gratitude, look up in worship, and look ahead with hope.

May RockPointe always be a church that keeps Jesus at the center and faithfully lives for Him until the day our Savior comes again.