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."
1 Corinthians 11:24
Schindler’s List is a 1993 film by Steven Spielberg that won the Oscar for Best Picture. It is a black-and-white movie about the Holocaust, based on a true story. The story involves Oskar Schindler, a member of the Nazi party, who was a womanizer and war profiteer. But he saw what was happening to the Polish Jews and he began spending his own money to rescue them. He ended up saving the lives of 1,100 Jews. At the end of the movie, there is a famous scene where the 1,100 Jewish survivors are expressing their deep, heartfelt thanks to Schindler for his sacrifice. In a very emotional manner they gave him a ring upon which was engraved, “Whoever saves one life saves the world entire.” When Schindler, played by Liam Neeson, receives this ring, he breaks down weeping. He had spent so much of his own money, but he knows that he could have saved so many others. But can you imagine the gratitude of those 1,100 people, and the gratitude of thousands of their descendants? How could you not be incredibly grateful to the person who rescued you?
That scene epitomizes communion in a nutshell. We are grateful to the one who has rescued us. We are grateful to the one who has rescued us from our sin and an eternity of hell. We are incredibly grateful to the one who sacrificed and died for us.
Jesus rescued us, not with his money but with his own precious blood. How could we not be incredibly grateful? He rescued us, not so we could have another 30 or 40 years of physical life, but so that we could have an eternity of life with God. The message of communion is simple: Never forget. Remember! With deep joy and gratitude, remember.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 underscores that the key principle of communion is to remember Jesus. God never tells us what words to say, what liturgy to follow, or what frequency to celebrate communion. There is no liturgy, ritual or time table prescribed.
But what God does tell us is this: Do it in remembrance of Jesus. Remember Jesus. Celebrate Jesus. Worship Jesus. Be grateful to Jesus.
Never let communion become a mundane or mechanical ritual for you. Reflect on what your Savior, God in the flesh, did for you. He died so you could live. He died to forgive your sins. He died to rescue you for all eternity.
Remember with deep gratitude and joy. Remember from a place deep in your heart. Remember and worship.
That’s the essence of communion.