The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1913-01-03

L Il
| 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 II repre-
sent? What truth does II teach? In
answering these questions the Chris
| tan Afforded an opportunity Of stat
ing the facts Of the Christian faith.
First. the Communion commemo-
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 a fact OF
Christian faith. True, Jesus died, but
what did he die for? Here Christian
faith declares itself by answering. He
died for our sins" The question OF
sin must be dealt with. it's debt must
be paid. the divine wrath against II
must be appeased. some ground must
be found upon which 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. 1t ac-
knowledges the reality Of both sin
and death, and relates these two great
facts in the death Of Christ. 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 characteA
of Christs 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 scoffings rude
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Sealed my pardon with His blood
Halelujah, What a Savior!'
The Communion is a fact or pro-
phecy. las oft as we eat this bread
and drink this cup We 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. II 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 visibly to this earth. There
are two pledges for Christs second
coming: The resurrection (Acts
17:3D, the pledge to the world; the
Lords supper Il Cor. 11:28), 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 dimmed with tears
Almost feel we broken hearted.
As we struggle with our fears.
But, II will not be forever.
We shall meet them all at home:
Separations will then be over
They are only It'll He come"
The Communion Is fact of me
mortal Jesus said, do this in re-
membrance OF me-" The Communion
is to be tangible reminder to us OF
our Lord. Sight helps memory. How
the mementoes we have OF our loved
ones remind us OF them, of what they
were to us, and of our love for them.
We 80 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 resurl
rection--convincing as 1t was
all supernatural claims, but ssa-
death. The Communion table Ia
memorial OF that death. and every
time we gather around 1t we please
the Master. by doing that last thing
he asked his disciples to do In re-
membrance OF him. The mother goes
to 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 food of memories they bring
to her heart and mind and soul as
she thinks OF the one who has died.
Let us not forget our Master; he will
not forget US.
| "1elp me- dear Savior. Thee to. own
| And ever faithful be;
| And when Thou sittest on Thy throne
| Dear Lord remember me-"