Memory Lane

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. ESV Luke 22:19-20

I took a trip down memory lane last week. It began the moment I pulled that old quilt out of the closet. I’m not certain exactly how old the quilt is, but I am positive that it’s over thirty years old; I’m guessing thirty-three or so. It’s stained near the top where my name is embroidered and it has an aged smell about it. My grandmother Askew hand stitched the little fishermen that are on each square. And the irregular stitches throughout testify to the hand quilting.

My trip took a turn south and continued as I pulled down an afghan that my grandmother Kimbrough made for me. It’s heavy, with tight loops in the yarn. It’s the kind of comforter you’d pull down on the coldest of days with an eye towards the couch and a good book. In my mind’s eye I can still see her toiling away at it today twenty-five years or so later.

As I admire, touch and smell these heirlooms left by my grandmothers, a flood of memories comes over me. I recall romping at the “old home place” of each of them. One was about five miles north of Cherokee; the other about five miles to the south. As a child, I hunted on one home place and played in the creek and barn at the other. Memories of both are fond and vivid. And the memories of both and the hope of seeing them again are brought to my recollection by something as simple as a quilt and an afghan.

Christ left us with a simple ritual (some would say ordinance or sacrament) to bring to our recollection his death, burial, resurrection and his imminent return. The modern Protestant church refers to it as The Lord’s Supper. It was instituted at the last Passover meal that Christ shared with his disciples before he was betrayed. A meal meant to bring remembrance of the exodus from Egypt.

But that day Christ changed the order of the traditional meal. He broke with tradition and instituted a ritual for His disciples that was decidedly different. No longer would they celebrate their ancestor’s exodus and deliverance from Egyptian bondage by the blood of a lamb. No, henceforth they would celebrate their deliverance from the bondage of sin through the blood of The Lamb of God.

So, I urge you. The next time that bread is broken and the cup is passed at your church, take time to remember. Take time to recall that Christ purchased your redemption from sin with His body and with His blood. Recall that He rose from the grave. And remember His promise to return again for His church. As you take The Lord’s Supper, do so “in remembrance of [Him].”

-Ken Askew