By Michael Bell
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
Why is it that participating in a meal together can invoke such strong memories, and not necessarily of the meal itself but of the people involved? Let me tell you a little story.
Stoplog Lake Waterfall
For me, one of the best meals ever, had to be from one of the times my Dad and I made bread on a stick, cooked over a fire, during winter camping with his Scout troop. The recipe and process were both simple. You took Bisquick, mixed it with water, wrapped it around a long stick, and slowly browned it over a low fire. Not only was it nourishment, but it warmed you up on the inside when the temperature might have been 20 below zero outside your snow shelter. Of course it wasn’t just about the bread, it was about spending time with my Dad, learning from him, enjoying the outdoors together, and all the memories associated with that. And my mind goes so easily from those memories to memories of summer camping, portaging into Stoplog lake, fishing, mixing blueberries with instant pudding, for a quick delightful desert. Memories like waiting with the canoe in a shallow rock cave at the edge of the lake while a rainstorm goes by. They bring on other memories, like playing in the natural jacuzzi and waterfall created by the stream that enters the lake. There are no bad memories of camping with Dad, but they are certainly powerful ones.
It is too bad that we don’t have direct memories of that last meal that Jesus spent with his disciples. Imagine how sharing a meal with Christ would make our memories of his so much stronger. I would love it if I could remember Christ in the same way that I remember the time I spent with my Dad. But in many ways partaking in the Lord’s table, how ever often you do it, is building memories of your relationship with Jesus Christ and of all he has done for you. Thinking back on how a meal spent with my Dad now means so much more to me that just the meal itself. Next time I take communion, I will certainly remember that this is more than just a little ritual, it is meant for us to think long and deep about Christ and all that he went through in order to bring about our salvation.
And yes, Bread on a stick, is certainly an experience I am going to have to share with my kids this winter. In doing so I will have to tell them the story of how I did it with my Dad, and how Christ did something similar with his disciples, and told them to continue to doing it as a way of remembering him… Just like I do with my Dad.
Thanks to Darrell Pursiful for the post that rekindled these memories.
Here is a question for my readers. Do you have similar things that have happened to you that invoke powerful memories? I would like to hear some of your experiences.
Michael Bell
Joshua Hearne
Tim Melton
Joel Black
No doubt food is important in the heart of God. It is everywhere in the Bible, even at some of the most crucial points in redemptive history. Adam and Eve sinned over food, Israel celebrated a meal as they left Egypt, it says the elders ate with God after the torah was given, and Jesus instituted the new covenant with a meal. Food is important to God, and should be to us. It speaks of fellowship, family and intimacy.
Some of my favorite things have been over a meal. Simply an intimate meal with my wife and I’s favorite food like sushi or filet mignon. Or sitting around a table with some friends laughing our heads off. And so many more. Meals are truly beautiful and full of grace.
I have long associated food with the deepening of relationships. In my growing up years with my dad as a pastor, we had good times and lean times. At one point just before Christmas when I was six, there was no money for a turkey so dad went out ans snared a rabbit. The image of him pushing through the snow waving the trophy he had found in his trap is one I will never forget. We ate it with salted potatoes, the room decorated with paper chains made from newspaper. But the beauty and humor, the gratitude and grace we shared made that meal memorable. God wants us to dine with him in both feast and famine, swallowing the simple fare of our every day as well as the occasional magnificent spread!
Even more than bringing back memories of great times past or even memories of our Lord and what He did for us way back when, the meal ought be the gift of Christ of Himself to us, His body and His blood, really with us, working forgiveness and grace and sanctification.
The Lord never told us to do anything at all where He would not be with us.
Broken and shed …for you.
Theoldadam,
Thank you for introducing another element of communion, Christ with us, however our readers might understand that to occur.
While I did not explicitly state it in my post, I want to be careful not to get into debate over that issue here at Eclectic Christian. That is one reason why I focused on the memory aspect in my post.