Till He Comes

“As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord’s death till he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). “His death” and “till he comes” form a striking combination made possible by his resurrection.

This symbolic meal does not so much rekindle the sad memory of a past tragedy as it lights up a glad reminder of its circumstances. Since everyone dies, his death would not be so notable were it not for the righteousness he brought to a criminal’s cross, the love for us he demonstrated in going through with it, and the triumph over the grave that followed. Those features of “his death” make it especially worth proclaiming “till he comes.”