WE naturally like to be remembered. It would pain us to know that our friends never think of us when we are absent from them. "My people no longer remember me," said a late Queen of the Belgians; "it is time to go." The words were the last she ever uttered. Her heart was broken by the forgetfulness of those who were dear to her. What sorrowful and pathetic words are those which close the narrative of the "little city" and its 'deliverer, in Eccles., chap. 9: "No man remembered that same poor man." The city had been in great danger. A mighty monarch had laid siege to it and had built fortifications round about it. There were no forces in the city that could withstand the besieging armies. But a certain man, poor and despised, wrought deliverance by his wisdom. The city was saved. No doubt the joy-bells clanged upon the Eastern air; no doubt there were ringing shouts of triumph. But what of the poor, wise man? Nobody thought of him. They owed their all to him, but he was completely forgotten. "No man remembered" him.
There is a parallel to this in the story of Joseph.
He had been able to render a great service to one of his fellow-prisoners. This man, Pharaoh's chief butler, was subsequently released, and restored to the royal favor. Before he left the precincts of the prison Joseph made a very simple request of him: "Think on me," he said, "when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me." We should have thought that the chief butler would have been eager to grant this request. Evidently, however, other things took possession of his mind. It was well with him, and once again he moved in the high circles of the Egyptian court. "Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him." Sad words, telling once again the story of human forgetfulness and ingratitude.
Has it ever struck you, Christian reader, that your Lord and Savior has made of you a request similar to that of Joseph? He does not want His people to forget Him. Why? Surely because He loves us so deeply! If we were not ever in His thoughts He might be indifferent as to our remembrance of Him. But the fact that He has expressed the desire that we should remember Him speaks volumes. It is an overwhelming proof of His love.
It is well that we should note the exact terms of His request. It was on the night when His familiar friend had lifted up his heel against Him and betrayed Him into the hands of those who sought His life. Gathering His loved disciples around Him, He partook with them of the Passover supper. This being finished, instead of rising at once from the table, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and handed it to the disciples, saying: "Take, eat... in remembrance of Me.”
Observe, that He does not say "in celebration of your blessing," or "in remembrance of the benefits conferred upon you," but "in remembrance of ME" (1 Cor. 11:2424And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. (1 Corinthians 11:24)). He counts upon our grateful and loving remembrance of Himself.
How can we explain the indifference of many Christians to this touching request of their Lord? I can understand anyone saying, "There are so many sects and companies with divergent views, that I am puzzled where to go to join in the remembrance of the Lord Jesus." But it is difficult to understand that one who owes his all to Christ should be content to let the years slip by without being concerned as to partaking of the Lord's Supper at all! Does such an one understand that it is the way He Himself has appointed for His people to show that they do not forget Him, but cherish His memory and desire His company?
At a certain place, in the northern regions of Canada, where everything is frozen for the greater part of the year, some Christians had arranged to meet on one of the rare occasions when such a, meeting was possible. Their purpose was to partake of the Lord's Supper together. One aged Christian, from a place 275 miles distant, was present. He had trudged all those miles, absolutely alone, dependent upon his gun for food, in order to join in the remembrance of his Lord and Savior. He was not able to return by land; he had to strike right out onto the solid ice of Hudson's Bay. He went on; during the first day, and when night fell, wrapped himself in his deerskin cloak and lay down on the ice. The second night he did the same, and then got ashore and reached his home. That dear man had tramped 550 miles for the one purpose of remembering the Lord in His own appointed way in company with others like-minded. Should not such earnestness and love serve as a stimulus to our less zealous souls? Can we not look up into the face of our blessed Lord, and find a new meaning in the prophet's words, as we say: "O Lord... the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of Thee" (Isa. 26:88Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. (Isaiah 26:8)).
There is nothing that can so touch the heart anti renew the affections as this remembrance of the Lord Himself, in His undying love, proved at the cost of so much suffering. No wonder that those who most deeply value the privilege of gathering with others of "His own" for this remembrance, are often melted to tears as their thoughts are led afresh to the way He has expressed His love amid the darkness and woe of Calvary. A friend of the late Colonel Gardiner says: "Often have I had the pleasure to see that manly countenance softened... and to discern, in spite of all his efforts to conceal them, a stream of tears flowing down from his eyes, while directing them to those memorials of his Redeemer's love.”
And thus it may be with us. Our cold, forgetful hearts may be warmed; our affections renewed and fixed afresh on Christ, as we are gathered, even if only two or three in number, for the remembrance of Him. I do not in this paper refer to the order or method of it, or to anything connected with the subject save the object of the Supper, and the effect it should have upon the hearts of those who partake.
Miss Edgeworth relates, in one of her books, an anecdote of a Spanish artist who was engaged to depict on his canvas the never-to-be-forgotten scene of "The Last Supper." He put forth the utmost of his skill into every detail of the picture, and he placed in the foreground some chased cups of exquisite workmanship. When his friends came to see the painting, everyone said: "What beautiful cups!”
“Ah!" said the artist, "I have made a mistake; these cups divert the gaze from the Master!" And, his brush, he effaced them from the canvas.
So let it be with this paper: let it recall your thoughts, Christian reader, to your Lord and Savior. Let it appeal to you in His name. Let it awaken, or re-awaken, within you the desire to show, in this world, where He has been betrayed and set at naught, that you do not forget Him, but that you' prize His name, and cherish the remembrance of Himself.