Why We Observe the Lord's Evening Meal

SOME WAYS TO PREPARE

By keeping up with the Memorial Bible reading schedule found in Examining the Scriptures Daily, we can meditate on what Jesus did just before his death. In turn, this can help us to prepare our heart for the Lord's Evening Meal.  "We look forward to the Memorial," wrote one sister.  "It becomes more special each year. I remember standing in the funeral home . . .looking at my dear dad and coming to a true heartfelt appreciation for the ransom. . . .Oh, I knew all the scriptures and how to explain them!  But only when I felt the cold reality of death did my heart fairly  leap with joy over what will be accomplished for us by means of that precious ransom."  Indeed, when preparing for the Memorial, we do well to reflect on how Jesus' sacrifice liberates us from the scourge of sin and death. 

Preparing for the Memorial might include plans to increase our ministry in some way, perhaps as auxiliary pioneers during the Memorial season.  As we invite Bible students and others to the Lord's Evening Meal, we will find joy in speaking about God, his Son, and the blessings that are in store for those who please Jehovah and praise him. -Psalm 148:12, 13. 

As you prepare for the Lord's Evening Meal, consider what the apostle Paul wrote to the Christian congregation in Corinth.  (Read 1 Corinthians 11:27-34)  Paul pointed out that anyone who partakes of the loaf and drinks from the cup unworthily is "guilty respecting the body and the blood of the Lord, Jesus Christ.  So an anointed one should "approve himself after scrutiny" and only then partake of the emblems. Otherwise, he "eats and drinks judgment against himself."  Because of improper conduct, many of the Corinthians were "weak and sick, and quite a few [were] sleeping in spiritual death."  Possibly, some ate and drank so much before they were neither mentally nor spiritually alert. Partaking of the emblems in such an unworthy manner brought God's disapproval on them.

Paul compared the Memorial to a meal share with others, and he warned partakers:  "You cannot be drinking the cup of Jehovah and the cup of demons; you cannot be partaking of 'the table of Jehovah' and the table of demons."  (1 Corinthians 10:16-21) If a person  who partakes of the emblems at the Lord's Evening Meal has committed a serious sin, he should seek spiritual assistance.  (Read James 5:14-16) If such an anointed one has produced  "fruits that befit repentance," then he is not showing contempt for Jesus' sacrifice by partaking of the Memorial emblems. -Luke 3:8.

As we personally prepare for the Memorial , we would find it beneficial to give prayerful thought  to our God-given hope. No dedicated servant of Jehovah and faithful follower of his Son would want to show disrespect  for Jesus' sacrifice by partaking of the Memorial emblems if he or she actually lacks  clear evidence of being an anointed Christian. Therefore, how can one determine whether to partake of the emblems or not?

Next time: Why We Observe the Lord's Evening Meal - WHO SHOULD PARTAKE?

From the Watchtower magazine, 2015