When we come to this Table, we are fed by the Lord. When we eat the bread and drink the wine, we are nourished by Him. This is a memorial of Christ’s death and resurrection, but this is not the same thing that many have assumed it to be. A memorial in scriptural language is far more than just a reminder. Of course, the reminding aspect is necessary in every memorial, but a great deal more is involved in it than just this. We do partake in remembrance of Christ, and what He did.
But we have to remember that Christ is seated at this table as much as we are. He is the host, He is seated at the head of the Table. He also partakes in remembrance. But clearly more is involved in Him simply remembering what occurred on the cross. More happens here than Christ reminding Himself of what He did historically. How could He forget that?
The same word is used in Hebrews to speak about the sacrifices, offered up year after year. In these sacrifices, God is being supplicated to remember His promises. In the case of these sacrifices, His promises were to send the final sacrifice in Christ. Throughout the Old Testament, memorials were established in order to remind God of His covenant commitments.
We sometimes let our theology get in the way of our obedience. We know theologically that God needs no reminders, and so we don’t partake of the memorial that He commanded us to use in order to remind Him. We know He doesn’t need to hear our prayers for His benefit, and so we disobey, and neglect our prayers.
God wants us to learn a central lesson here. We wants us to learn how to hold Him to His covenant promises. But, we argue, He doesn’t need to be held to them. This is quite true—but regardless of what He needs, we need to hold Him to it. We need to plead the covenant.
We need to commune with Him and pray to Him with that high level of faith, a faith that looks to outsiders as though we think God might forget us, coupled with our solemn declaration that He never will.