Remember!

When He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered . . . and they believed the Scripture.   — John 2:22 

The disciples remembered — and then they believed. After the death of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection, they recalled and finally understood Jesus’ words, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19).

If our faith is to grow, we too need to remember the cross and the empty tomb. Jesus established a memorial of His death, a practice we call the Lord’s Supper, knowing that our faith and hope would be strengthened as we remember what He has done for us. He said, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (1 Cor. 11:24). Every time we drink of the cup and eat the bread, we remember what it cost Him to redeem us.

The true believer does not live in memories only, however, but with hope for the future. We are to partake of the cup and bread “till He comes” (v. 26). The One who died for us also rose from the grave. As we think of our loved ones who have died in the faith, we look beyond to the day when the graves will be opened and we will meet them again. We can be sure that because Jesus lives we too shall live.

We may shed tears today in memory of those who have died. But as we recall Christ’s death and resurrection, our faith and hope are renewed. Let’s remember!                                               — M. R. De Haan, MD

We sorrow not as others do,

Whose hopes fade like the flowers;

There is a hope that’s born of God,

And such a hope is ours.      — McNeil

READ: John 2:13-22

In life and in death, Christ is our hope.

The Bible in one year:

• 1 Corinthians 4-6