2. As
often
The second
important question that we all need to take into consideration is the question
of how often should one partake of the bread and the wine which symbolizes and
represents the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ and which reminds us
of His sufferings and death. First and foremost, the word often denotes, many
times, on different occasions, or whenever. So, the important question we
should all be asking ourselves is, how often should one remind him/herself of
the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ? And is there an appointed time? So, is
it once a year, once every three months, once a week or daily?
We should
also bear in mind the fact that, it is by partaking of the bread and drinking
of the wine that we demonstrate our appreciation and remembrance of the
sufferings and death of Jesus Christ as the scriptures clearly states; “Take,
eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of
Me."
In the same
manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new
covenant in My blood. This do as often as you drink it, in remembrance of
Me."
So, the
multi-million question to all believers is, how often should one partake of the
body and blood of Jesus Christ to keep us in remembrance of Him? One thing for
sure is that; “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret
to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).
And so, the
question is, has God revealed to us through His servants as to how often are we
to eat of the bread and drink of the cup? Is there an ordained and appointed time
to offer to the Lord the food for His offerings? Please, remember that the Old Testament
was as shadow and copy of the reality for when Moses was about to build the
tabernacle, he was instructed saying; “And see to it that you make them
according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain” (Exodus
25:40).
And with reference to the
priesthood the apostle Paul wrote; “who serve the copy and shadow of the
heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the
tabernacle. For He said, "See that you make all things according to the
pattern shown you on the mountain" (Hebrews 8:5).
So, the example that we have from
the Old Testament as to how often one should remember the Lord’s death is
stated as follows: “Command the children of Israel, and say to them, 'My
offering, My food for My offerings made by fire as a sweet aroma to Me, you
shall be careful to offer to Me at their appointed time” (Numbers
28:2).
So, the Lord has ordained specific
times for His people to offer to Him the food for His offerings which are;
daily morning and evening as a thanksgiving offering. On the seventh day weekly
Sabbath as a peace and fellowship offering, on every new moon commemorating the
beginning of a new month and on the annual Sabbaths commemorating and ascribing
to the Lord the glory due to His name for what He did for humanity on that
particular day.
And so, we have been duly
instructed saying; “These are the feasts of the LORD which you shall proclaim
to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the LORD, a burnt
offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on
its day ---besides the Sabbaths of the LORD, besides your gifts, besides all
your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the LORD”
(Leviticus
23:37-38).
Please note carefully that, the main reason or objective for having a holy convocation is to offer to the Lord the food for His offerings and that it is besides or in addition to, the observance of the Sabbath, in addition to one’s gifts, vows or freewill offering which one decides to give to the Lord and the reason for that is optimal.
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To be continued
With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
