Remembering Christ: The Power of His Sacrifice
Summary
Memory is a powerful gift, but it can also be a burden. Some, like Jill Rosenberg Price, possess an extraordinary ability to remember every detail of their lives, yet even such a gift can become overwhelming, trapping a person in the past and making it difficult to live in the present or hope for the future. For most of us, forgetfulness is a more common struggle, especially when it comes to the most important truths. That is why Jesus, knowing our tendency to forget, gave us a simple yet profound way to remember the most significant event in history: His sacrifice on the cross.
On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus gathered with His disciples to celebrate the Passover meal—a meal already rich with symbolism and remembrance for the people of Israel. During this meal, He reinterpreted its elements, taking bread and wine and giving them new meaning as symbols of His body and blood, given for the forgiveness of sins. He did not ask us to remember His miracles, His wisdom, or even His resurrection—though all are vital—but specifically His death, because it is through His death that our sins are forgiven and our relationship with God is restored.
Unlike the monuments and memorials we build to remember great sacrifices, Jesus chose the most basic acts of eating and drinking as the means by which we remember Him. These ordinary actions, essential for physical life, become extraordinary when they remind us of the spiritual life we receive through Christ’s sacrifice. The Lord’s Supper is not just a ritual; it is a deeply personal and tactile experience that involves all our senses, drawing us into communion with Jesus and with one another.
This remembrance is not just a collective act but an intensely personal one. Jesus died not only for all, but for each one of us individually. The invitation is open: for those who have not yet received the gift of life in Christ, today is the day to respond in faith and repentance. For those who already walk with Him, it is a call to remember the cost of our redemption, to examine our hearts, and to approach the table with gratitude and humility, knowing that we are loved beyond measure.
Key Takeaways
- The Double-Edged Nature of Memory: While extraordinary memory can seem like a blessing, it can also become a burden that keeps us trapped in the past. Spiritually, we are called to remember what is essential—Christ’s sacrifice—while letting go of what hinders us from living fully in the present and anticipating God’s future for us. [02:11]
- The Centrality of Christ’s Death: Jesus did not ask us to memorialize His miracles, teachings, or even His resurrection, but His death. This is because His death is the foundation of our forgiveness and reconciliation with God; it is the price paid for our redemption and the event that makes all other blessings possible. [07:36]
- The Simplicity and Depth of the Lord’s Supper: Jesus chose the most basic human activities—eating and drinking—as the means to remember Him. This simplicity ensures that the memorial endures through all generations, and its depth lies in the way it engages our senses and draws us into intimate communion with Christ. [13:20]
- Personal Nature of Christ’s Sacrifice: The sacrifice of Jesus is not just a general act for humanity, but a deeply personal one for each individual. If you were the only person in need of salvation, Christ would have still gone to the cross for you. This truth calls us to respond with personal gratitude and devotion. [16:47]
- Invitation to Self-Examination and Response: Before coming to the Lord’s Table, we are called to examine our hearts, confess our sins, and remember the grace that has been extended to us. This act of remembrance is both a celebration of forgiveness and a call to renewed faith and repentance, inviting all to receive the life that only Jesus can give. [18:30]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:25] - The Story of Jill Price and Hyperthymesia
[02:11] - The Blessing and Burden of Memory
[03:18] - Memorial Day and the Call to Remember
[05:05] - The Passover Background
[06:10] - Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper
[07:03] - What Jesus Wants Us to Remember
[07:36] - The Meaning of Christ’s Death
[08:25] - Redemption Through His Blood
[09:31] - How We Memorialize Sacrifice
[11:15] - The Simplicity of Jesus’ Memorial
[13:20] - The Lord’s Supper: A Tactile Remembrance
[14:21] - The Gift of Spiritual Life
[15:20] - Remembering the Personal Cost
[16:47] - Jesus’ Sacrifice for Each of Us
[18:30] - Prayer and Invitation
[19:47] - Closing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Remembering Christ’s Sacrifice
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### Bible Reading
- Matthew 26:26-30
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
- Ephesians 1:7
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.
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### Observation Questions
1. In Matthew 26:26-30, what specific elements of the Passover meal does Jesus give new meaning to, and what do they represent?
2. According to the sermon, what did Jesus specifically ask his followers to remember about him? [06:10]
3. What does Ephesians 1:7 say we receive through Jesus’ blood?
4. How does the sermon describe the way Jesus chose for us to remember his sacrifice, compared to how people usually memorialize important events or people? [09:31]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose such simple, everyday actions—eating and drinking—as the way for us to remember his sacrifice, instead of something more elaborate? [11:15]
2. The sermon says Jesus didn’t ask us to remember his miracles, teachings, or even his resurrection, but his death. Why is his death so central to our faith and forgiveness? [07:36]
3. The Lord’s Supper is described as both a collective and a personal act. What does it mean for you personally that Jesus’ sacrifice was “for you,” not just for everyone in general? [16:47]
4. Before coming to the Lord’s Table, the sermon encourages self-examination. Why is it important to examine our hearts before participating in communion? [18:30]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon talks about the double-edged nature of memory—sometimes it’s a blessing, sometimes a burden. Are there memories in your life that keep you stuck in the past? How can remembering Christ’s sacrifice help you move forward? [02:11]
2. Jesus chose ordinary bread and wine to help us remember him. What are some simple, everyday things in your life that could remind you of God’s love and grace? How can you use them as reminders this week? [13:20]
3. When you participate in the Lord’s Supper, do you tend to think of it as just a ritual, or as a personal encounter with Jesus? What could help make it more meaningful for you? [13:20]
4. The sermon says Jesus’ sacrifice was for you personally. Do you find it hard to believe that Jesus would have gone to the cross just for you? Why or why not? How does this truth affect your relationship with him? [16:47]
5. Before taking communion, we are called to examine our hearts and confess our sins. Is there something you need to bring before God today? What steps can you take to approach the Lord’s Table with gratitude and humility? [18:30]
6. The invitation is open to everyone—to receive the gift of life in Christ. If you have not yet responded to this invitation, what is holding you back? If you have, how can you share this invitation with someone else this week? [15:20]
7. The sermon mentions that forgetfulness is common, especially about spiritual truths. What practical steps can you take to remember what Jesus has done for you, not just during communion, but in your daily life? [02:11]
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Devotional
Day 1: Remembering Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross
The most important thing for us to remember is what Jesus did for us on the cross—His body given and His blood shed for the forgiveness of our sins. This is not just a historical fact, but a personal gift for each of us, a sacrifice that brings us life and reconciles us to God. Jesus did not ask us to remember His miracles, teachings, or even His resurrection above all, but rather His death, because it is through His death that our sins are atoned for and our relationship with God is restored. As we come to the Lord’s Table, we are invited to remember this sacrifice deeply and personally, letting it shape our gratitude and devotion. [07:36]
Matthew 26:26-30 (ESV)
"Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, 'Take, eat; this is my body.' And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, 'Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.' And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives."
Reflection: As you prepare for communion, what specific aspect of Christ’s sacrifice do you most need to remember and give thanks for today?
Day 2: The Power of Christ’s Blood to Forgive
The death of Jesus is the price paid for our redemption; His blood was poured out so that our sins could be forgiven. The Bible reminds us that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness, and it is only through Christ’s sacrifice that we are set free from the penalty and power of sin. This forgiveness is not something we could earn or achieve on our own—it is a gift, bought at the highest cost. As you reflect on this truth, remember that you are not your own; you were bought at a price, and that price was the very life of Jesus, given willingly for you. [08:25]
Ephesians 1:7 (ESV)
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace."
Reflection: Is there a sin or burden you need to bring to Jesus today, trusting that His blood is enough to forgive and cleanse you completely?
Day 3: Communion: A Simple Yet Profound Memorial
Jesus chose the simple acts of eating and drinking as the way to remember His sacrifice, making the memorial of His death accessible and intimate for all people, in every generation. These ordinary elements—bread and cup—become powerful symbols of His body and blood, inviting us to participate in a tangible, sensory experience of remembrance and communion with Christ. Just as food and drink are essential for physical life, so Christ’s sacrifice is essential for our spiritual life, nourishing us with His presence and grace. [13:20]
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (ESV)
"For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when 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 also he took the cup, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes."
Reflection: As you eat and drink today, how can you let these simple acts remind you of your ongoing need for Christ and His sustaining grace?
Day 4: Christ’s Sacrifice Is Personal—For You
It is easy to speak of Jesus dying for “all,” but it is vital to remember that He died for each one of us individually. If you were the only person in need of salvation, Jesus would still have gone to the cross for you. His love is that personal and that profound. This truth calls us to respond not just with collective gratitude, but with a personal sense of being known, loved, and redeemed by Christ Himself. Let this reality sink in: Jesus gave Himself for you, and invites you to receive His gift of life and forgiveness. [16:47]
Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Reflection: In what ways do you struggle to believe that Jesus’ sacrifice was truly for you personally, and how might you open your heart to receive His love today?
Day 5: Examine Yourself and Respond to Christ’s Invitation
Before coming to the Lord’s Table, we are called to examine our hearts, confess any sin, and come in the assurance of forgiveness. This is not a ritual to be taken lightly, but a sacred opportunity to respond to Christ’s invitation—whether that means receiving Him as Lord and Savior for the first time, or renewing your commitment to walk in His grace. God desires that we come honestly, humbly, and with gratitude, ready to remember and celebrate the gift of salvation that cost Jesus everything. [18:30]
1 Corinthians 11:27-28 (ESV)
"Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup."
Reflection: As you prepare for communion, what is one area of your life where you need to confess, repent, or seek God’s forgiveness before coming to His table?
Quotes
One of the things we must remember and never forget is what our Lord Jesus did for us on the cross of Calvary. Because we ordinary folks suffer from the common human tendency to forget, Jesus ingeniously instituted for us a way to remember His sacrifice. [00:02:21]
The one thing Jesus wanted to be remembered, above all other things, was His death. Going to the cross on our behalf. You see, Jesus didn't create a memorial to His wisdom or to His power. He didn't create a memorial to His miracles or to His teaching. He didn't even create a memorial to His resurrection. [00:06:53]
It's His death that He wants us to remember. Why is that? It's because of what His death accomplishes. Now, His resurrection is the guarantee of our own resurrection. It assures our future. But it is His death on the cross that atones for our past. [00:07:30]
Our sins have separated us from the holy God who created us. And so of the cup, Jesus says, This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins, in verse 28. [00:08:01]
The Bible says elsewhere in Hebrews, Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. In Ephesians 1, 7, the Bible says, In Him. that is in Christ, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. [00:08:17]
Jesus said He did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many in our place, as it were. The price that was paid, His death on the cross, it buys our pardon. [00:08:35]
The Bible says, you are not your own. You were bought at a price. And it was a high price indeed. It cost Jesus His very life, the ultimate price as it were, as the sinless Son of God gave up His life on the cross of Calvary to save us, to take our place and our punishment on Him so that we could have His righteousness and His standing before God. [00:08:56]
We indeed are not our own we have been bought at a price the price of Jesus own blood but Jesus paid it even though it cost him his life like that hymn says Jesus paid it all all to him I owe sin had left a crimson stain but he washed it white as snow with his very blood Jesus paid for us and so we belong to him it is not too much to ask that we remember the price he paid for us. [00:09:31]
But how does one memorialize such a sacrifice as that what can suffice to remind a people prone to forgetfulness of the sacrifice that bought our pardon. When we want to memorialize something or someone, we build monuments out of stone meant to weather the ravages of time, meant to last so that we won't forget why they were erected. [00:10:20]
But Jesus didn't do any of that. He didn't build any tall buildings. He didn't erect any marble edifices that would eventually crumble into the dustbin of history. Certainly not. His memorial is far more simple than any of that. And yet at the same time, it is infinitely more sublime. [00:11:09]
Jesus chose two customs that are unchanged in all of human experience, eating and drinking. As long as people live on this earth, they will have to eat and they will have to drink because these bodies require nourishment and hydration. It's a simple memorial but it is a sublime memorial. [00:11:35]
Jesus chose these two simple things as the means of keeping alive the memory of his death so think with me about that for a moment... consider how these ordinary items of food and drink serve as memory aids to remind us of christ's death the broken bread for example as a symbol of his body the red liquid as a symbol of his blood and then there is the eating and the drinking itself it's a very tactile experience we see it we touch it we taste it we take it into ourselves it's a very intimate kind of picture of communion with christ. [00:00:00]
Just as food and drink are absolutely essential for these physical lives that we are given, what this particular food and drink symbolize is absolutely essential for us to live spiritually. Jesus' body and His blood invigorate our spirits and remind us that we have life in His name through His sacrifice. [00:13:36]
Christ's death makes that spiritual life possible. Jesus said, I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh. which I will give for the life of the world. That's how John records it in his gospel. [00:14:07]
So Jesus came to die for us. He died in our place so that we might live through him. Do you have the life that only Jesus can give? Abundant life in the here and now and eternal life in the life to come. [00:14:34]
Do you know that that is yours through Jesus Christ? If not, then you have opportunity to receive that gift from God this very day. And what better time to do so and then partake of the symbols of Christ's body and his blood. [00:14:58]
If you don't know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, I invite you today to take that step, to offer yourself to him, to humble yourself in repentance and faith that Jesus Christ might enter into your heart and your life and make you whole again, give you the life that God intended for you to have when he created you before the sin came in that separated you from God and everything that is good and righteous and holy and pure. [00:15:20]
But have you forgotten the sacrifice that was necessary to purchase that life you live in, that blessing you enjoy? If you've forgotten, then you need to remember today, as we partake of this memorial to Him, what was actually given on your behalf. [00:16:08]
And when I say on your behalf, I mean in the singular, not the plural. Jesus died for you, individually, each of you, to offer you this gift of eternal life. We often talk about Jesus dying for all, but Jesus died for each, especially just for you. [00:16:31]
The old preachers used to say, if there had been no one else, only you, Jesus would still have gone to the cross on your behalf. And it's absolutely true. Jesus loves you that much, to give Himself on the cross for you, to sacrifice His body and His blood to save you. [00:16:55]
The Bible says a person ought to examine himself before he comes to the table of the Lord. If there is sin in your heart somewhere, bring it out, confess it to the Lord right there where you are between you and him so that you can come to the table of the Lord in the assurance of the forgiveness of your sins. [00:18:00]
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