Whenever...

1 Corinthians 11:26

“Whenever...”

“For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he
comes.”

Four theological truths, what they mean to us, and one action-point.

1. Jesus lived on this earth. [Life]

“But made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human
likeness.” [Philippians 2:7]

Jesus knows what it means to be fully human. That means Jesus understands our need, our
suffering and our struggle. It makes Jesus our source of help in time of need.

“For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, in order that He might
become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make
atonement for the sins of the people. [18] Because He himself suffered when He was tempted,
He is able to help those who are being tempted.” [Hebrews 2:17 – 18]

Not only does Jesus understands our struggle, Jesus sympathizes with our “weaknesses.” Notice
it is not weakness (singular) but weaknesses (plural). What Jesus demonstrates is the possibility
of living outside the tyranny of sin.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we
have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.” [Hebrews
4:15]

Jesus had to have lived to have died...

2. Jesus died a human death. [Faith]

“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death--
even death on a cross!” [Philippians 2:8]

Imagine the King of Glory, God Almighty, dying. Physical death was one result of sin. Physical
death is part of “the curse” we all inherited from Adam and Eve. Jesus entered to total human
experience, including death because sin also caused a separation between God and humanity.
Since, we cannot bridge the gap, Jesus did it for us.

“And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who
died for them and was raised again.” [2 Corinthians 5:15]

This means we will no longer live for ourselves. Instead we live for Jesus.

“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive
the promised eternal inheritance--now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the
sins committed under the first covenant.” [Hebrews 9:15]

Because of Jesus’ death, we have an eternal inheritance. Jesus’ death was an act that ransomed
us from the grip of sin. The ransom was paid covering our debt of sin which is eternal retribution
(payback not correction).

Some of us do not think we deserve eternal retribution (a.k.a. “Hell”). What is worse than the
eternal retribution of hell would be being forced, against our will, to live in the presence of a
pure, loving, and holy God.

3. Jesus is alive. [Hope]

“Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every
name.” [Philippians 2:9]

God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Jesus has returned to His former glory and
place, waiting for that time God the Father has appointed for the end of human history.

“And who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His
resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.” [Romans 1:4]

The resurrection is proof of Jesus’ life, ministry, authority, and divinity. Every thing depends on
the truth of the resurrection. If Jesus was resurrected then Jesus was and did what the Bible says
He was and did. Jesus is the long promised and awaited Messiah (Christ). Jesus is Lord (God)
and ruler of all.

“We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus
those who have fallen asleep in him.” [1 Thessalonians 4:14]

Jesus’ death and resurrection also looks forward to Jesus’ return. Which means we will also
have a resurrection to eternal life.

4. Jesus is returning. [Joy]

“This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his
powerful angels.” [2 Thessalonians 1:7b]

This return is in victory. Once Jesus died so we may live and have abundant life. Once Jesus
was raised from the dead to leave no doubt to who He is and His claim of King (Lord) of all.
Someday, maybe soon, Jesus will return to set all wrongs right.

It doesn’t matter who you are, what your beliefs are, or what side you are take:

“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
[11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
[Philippians 2:10– 11]

Angels, humans, and demons will all understand and proclaim without a shadow of a doubt the
truth of Jesus as Lord (King).

ACTION POINT: You proclaim these truths as you participate in this table.

These truths, to the follower of Jesus Christ, are non-negotiable. These are the cornerstones of
our life, faith, hope, and joy. As we celebrate this time, we proclaim with our minds, our
mouths, our lives these truths.

Today if you are following Jesus, you are invited to this table. If you are struggling with the
effects of sin you’ve done, you are invited to repent and join at this table.

This is a place where you can leave your sin, leave your weaknesses, leave your loneliness, leave
your selfish, stubborn, resisting self and be washed in the soul cleansing blood of Jesus.

This is a proclamation of a new covenant, a new life, and a new promise.