Do you remember?

"What do you mean by this service?" (Ex 12:26).

The Israelites were commanded to keep the Passover to remind themselves and their children of God's deliverance from Egypt. It was to be celebrated in a certain way on a specific day each year. A lamb and unleavened bread were to remind them of what God had done for His people.

Can you imagine reviewing the history of Israel to your children and grandchildren, just as your grandparents and parents had taught you? Passing on this great story of slavery, ten plagues and the jubilant exodus from generation to generation would have been the highlight of the celebration. Sitting at the table and hearing the great stories from the patriarch of the family each year.

As believers in the New Testament, we have a similar celebration: the Lord's Table. As the church gathers around that table, we are reminded of the work of Christ on the cross. He is our passover, the perfect Lamb, slain for the sins of the world.

The unleavened bread is a picture of His body. Sinless. Broken. A reminder of His incarnation, life, death and resurrection.

The juice is a reminder of His blood that was shed. His blood that paid the price for my sins. His blood that continues to cleanse me. His blood that sealed the covenant. His blood that redeemed me.

So are we using the Lord's Table to instruct the next generation? To teach them the great story of redemption in Christ should be the center of the celebration. Reminding ourselves of the work which God has accomplished on our behalf through His Son, we should be teaching our children and others the glorious story of redemption.