Remember Christ’s Sacrifice – Always

Remember Christ’s Sacrifice—Always

“For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast…” 1 Corinthians 5:7b-8a

Commentator Matthew Henry once wrote, “we celebrate the memorial of Christ’s death at certain times, that we may remember it at all times.” We should regularly be commemorating the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who “loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2). For example, we remember Christ’s sacrifice every time we take communion: “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:26)

Just before they entered the Promised Land the Israelites were commanded to go to Jerusalem each year to celebrate the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread which followed it, not just so they could remember it for that week, but “so that all the days of your life you may remember the time of your departure from Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 16:3).

As the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover promise, Christ gives us something much greater than freedom from physical slavery to commemorate and celebrate. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Through Christ’s sacrifice we are released from slavery to sin and its death penalty.

May we never forget the cost of our salvation. As Peter wrote, “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24). To daily desire to die to sins and live for righteousness is the best way we can commemorate Christ’s sacrifice for us.

May our lives reflect these words written by the Apostle Paul: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)