Participating in the Story: The Power of Remembrance

Memory is a powerful gift, capable of transporting us back to moments that shaped us, whether they happened decades ago or just last week. On this Memorial Day weekend, as we honor those who gave their lives for our freedom, we also reflect on the deeper meaning of remembrance—especially as we prepare our hearts for communion. The Jewish Passover, which Jesus and his disciples celebrated the night before his crucifixion, was not just a ritual of recalling history. It was a sacred time of reliving the story of deliverance from Egypt, a story so real that each generation claimed, “We were slaves…we were delivered.” The Passover was more than a retelling; it was a re-experiencing, a way of entering into the story as if it were happening to them.

In the midst of this ancient tradition, Jesus did something radical. He took the sacred script of Passover and declared, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood.” For his disciples, these words would have been shocking, echoing the long-awaited promise from Jeremiah that God would one day make a new covenant—one written not on tablets of stone, but on hearts. Jesus was announcing that the time had come, and that he himself was the fulfillment of all the Passover had pointed to. The bread and the cup were no longer just symbols of an exodus from Egypt, but of a greater deliverance—freedom from sin through his sacrifice.

When Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me,” he used a word that means more than simply recalling a past event. It is a vivid, deliberate reliving—a participation in the very story of Christ’s death and resurrection. Communion is not just a memorial; it is an invitation to step into the story, to reclaim our place at the cross, and to recognize that we were there. Our sins, our brokenness, our need for grace—all present at Calvary. In communion, we don’t just remember; we participate. We return to the cross, we receive anew the life Christ offers, and we surrender ourselves afresh to him.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Remembrance in the biblical sense is not passive nostalgia, but an active, vivid reliving of God’s saving acts. When we remember, we are not just recalling facts; we are stepping into the story, allowing it to shape our identity and faith in the present. This kind of remembrance transforms us, making the past alive and relevant in our walk with God. [06:18]
• 2. Jesus’ declaration of a “new covenant” at the Last Supper was a seismic shift in spiritual history. He claimed the authority to fulfill and transform the Passover, revealing that all its symbols pointed to himself. The new covenant is not about external rituals, but about God’s law written on our hearts, inviting us into a relationship that changes us from the inside out. [08:31]
• 3. Communion is not merely a symbolic act or a ritual to be observed. It is a participation—a deep, spiritual union with Christ in his death and resurrection. When we take the bread and the cup, we are not spectators of ancient history, but participants in the ongoing reality of Christ’s redemptive work. [21:54]
• 4. The question, “Were you there?” is not rhetorical or sentimental. In God’s mysterious economy, all humanity was present at the cross—our sins, our pain, our need for redemption. Communion invites us to own our place in the story, to recognize that Christ’s sacrifice was not just for others, but for us, here and now. [20:37]
• 5. True remembrance leads to surrender and trust. As we return to the cross through communion, we are called to respond with open hearts: “Lord Jesus, I need you. I want you. I put my trust in you. I am yours.” This is not just a prayer for the past, but a present act of faith and devotion, anchoring our lives in the reality of Christ’s love and grace. [23:38]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:50] - The Power of Memory and Remembrance
• [02:42] - The Passover: Symbolism and Story
• [04:41] - Reliving the Exodus: “We Were There”
• [06:18] - The Language of Identification in Passover
• [08:31] - Jesus Flips the Script: The New Covenant
• [11:25] - Christ at the Center of the Story
• [13:34] - “Do This in Remembrance of Me”
• [15:53] - The Depth of Remembrance: Anamnesis
• [17:46] - More Than History: Reliving His Story
• [18:41] - Communion: Rich Symbolism and Powerful Remembrance
• [19:27] - From Exodus to Calvary: The Focus of Communion
• [20:37] - “Were You There?”: Our Place at the Cross
• [21:54] - Participation, Not Just Recollection
• [23:38] - Returning to the Cross: Surrender and Prayer
• [24:55] - Preparing Our Hearts for Communion

Bible Reading

Exodus 12:26-27 — > “And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’”

2. Jeremiah 31:31-34
> “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah... I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people... For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

3. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
> “The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it 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.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Observation Questions

1. In the Passover tradition, what specific elements (like bread, wine, bitter herbs, lamb) were used, and what did each symbolize? ([02:42])
2. According to Jeremiah 31, what is different about the “new covenant” compared to the old one made at the Exodus? ([08:31])
3. When Jesus said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood,” how did this change the meaning of the Passover meal for his disciples? ([08:31])
4. In 1 Corinthians 11, what does Paul say we are doing when we eat the bread and drink the cup? ([13:34])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God wanted the Israelites to say “we were slaves…we were delivered” instead of “our ancestors were delivered”? What does this say about how God wants us to remember his works? ([06:18])
2. What does it mean that the new covenant is written on our hearts and not just on stone tablets? How might this affect someone’s relationship with God? ([08:31])
3. The sermon said that “remembrance” in communion is more than just recalling facts—it’s a vivid, deliberate reliving. Why is this kind of remembrance important for our faith? ([15:53])
4. Paul calls communion a “participation” in the body and blood of Christ. What does it mean to participate, not just remember, in the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection? ([21:54])

Application Questions

1. The Israelites made the story of the Exodus their own by saying “we were there.” When you take communion, do you see yourself as part of the story of Jesus’ sacrifice? Why or why not? ([06:18])
2. The sermon described remembrance as a vivid, deliberate reliving, not just nostalgia. What is one way you can make your next experience of communion more intentional and meaningful? ([15:53])
3. Jesus announced a new covenant that changes us from the inside out. Is there an area of your life where you need God’s law to be written on your heart, not just in your head? What would it look like to invite God to do that? ([08:31])
4. Communion is described as participation, not just a ritual. What would it look like for you to “participate” in Christ’s story this week, not just remember it? ([21:54])
5. The question “Were you there?” is meant to be personal. How does it change your view of the cross to realize that your own sins and brokenness were present at Calvary? ([20:37])
6. The sermon ended with a prayer: “Lord Jesus, I need you. I want you. I put my trust in you. I am yours.” Is there a specific area of your life where you need to surrender or trust Jesus more deeply right now? ([23:38])
7. When you think about your own memories, are there moments where you have experienced God’s deliverance or grace? How can you “relive” those moments in a way that strengthens your faith today? ([01:50])