The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-01-01

l1eNAs y good opportunity
of stating to the
child the facts in connection with
their redemption from bondage. So
today. in like manner. the Lords sup
per is often the means OF arousing
questions In the minds of both chill.
dren and adults. What Is the Com
munion service? What does 1t repre-
sent? What truth does It teach? In
answering these questions the Chris
tian afforded an opportunity Of stat.
ing the facts Of the Christian faith.
First, the Communion commend
rates a fact OF history. One can take
boat or train and soon arrive at Cal
vary. He may climb this hill and
reach its summit where once stood
the cross on which Jesus Christ died.
No intelligent person will deny the
historicity Of the fact of Christ's
death.
Second, the Communion Is fact Of
Christian faith. True, Jesus died, but
what did he die for? Here Christian
faith declares itself by answering. "He
ultu lOI Slus. Ht QucbIiOu VI
sin must be dealt with. its debt must
be paid, the divine wrath against It
must be appeased. some ground must
be found upon which a righteous God
may deal In mercy and pardon with
sinful man. The Communion table
tells us that all this has been accom-.
plished in the death of Christ. II ac-
knowledges the reality of both sin
and death. and relates these two great
facts in the death Of Cdrist. In the
words Of Jesus we say, This cup is
the New Testament in my blood, shed
for the remission of SINS" Preachers
may deny the vicarious atonement Of
Christ; the pulpit may be silent
touching the substitutionary character
Of Christ's death, but this table has
proclaimed since Christ's death and
will proclaim until he comes the fact
that he died for our sins; that
Bearing shame and scoffngs rude,
Sealed my pardon with His blood
Sealed my pardon with His blood
Hallelujah. What a SAVIOR"
The Communion is a fact Of pro-
phecy. "As oft as ye eat this bread
and drink this cup ye do show forth
the Lords death till he come" A
fact of history, fact of Christian
faith. fact OF prophecy-that the
Communion links itself to the past,
present and future. 1t reminds us of
our Lord, who, while present in spirit.
is absent In body. and assures us that
he will some day come again person
ally and<vislbly to this earth. There
are two pledges for Christ's second
coming: The resurrection (Acts
17:3D. the pledge to tie world; the
Lords supper q Cor. 11;2S), the
pledge to the church. The Commun.
ion table is aglow with hope and prom
Use: it constantly breaches the sec
ond coming OF Christ. Every time we
gather around this table we should
look forward with Joy to that glorious
day when we shall see not only our
blessed Lord, but also Those whom
we have loved long since and lost
awhile"
when from loved ones we are parted.
And our eyes are dlmmed with tears
Almost feel we broken-hearted.
As we struggle with our fears.
But. IT viii not be forever.
We shall meet them all at home;
Separations viii then be over
They are only It'll He come"
The Communion is a fact OF me-
mortal Jesus said, do this in re.
membrance of me-" The Communion
Is TO be a tangible reminder to us OF
our Lord. Sight helps memory. How
the mementoes we have of our loyec
ones remind us OF them, of what they
were to us, and OF our love for them
We so soon forget what We do not
see. Is 1t not strange that Of all that
| Jesus did when he was here upon the
earth the one thing he would have US
remember was not his life-wondrous
as that was. nor his miracles-star
Ting as they were. not even his resur-
rection-convincing as It was OF
all supernatural claims, but his
death. The Communion table Is a
memorial OF that death, and every
time we gather around II we please
! the Master by doing that last thing
he asked his disciples to do in re.
membrance of him. The mother goes
10 the bureau and from the drawer
she takes two little shoes. They are
simple. and plain. and worn; they
have no commercial value. but. oh.
what a food OF memories they bring
20 her heart and ,mind and soul as
she thinks OF the bne who has dledl
Let us not forget our Master; he will
not forget us.
"IIeip I'VE. dear Savior. Thee 10 own
And ever faithful be;
And when Thou sittest on Thy throne
Dear Lord. remember me-"