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Rainbows, bread and wine: Genesis 9:14-15
What do rainbows and the bread and wine that we will share today have in common? From a biblical point of view, two things.
First, they are signs to us of God's covenants with his people. Rainbows are signs of God's promise never again to use water to destroy all living things. The bread and the wine are the sign of God's promise to forgive the sins of those who eat and drink trusting in Christ's death for their sin.
And, second, the rainbow and the bread and the cup are God's reminders to himself. In Genesis 9:14-15 God says, “When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you.” God does not need to be reminded, because he does not forget, but he does ever so graciously show us that he remembers his promises. The rainbow and the bread and the cup are God's reminders to us of his unchanging faithfulness to his word.
As we share the bread and cup of the new covenant in Christ's blood, we remember God's promise to take all our sins and nail them to the cross of Christ. And we are reminded that God is the faithful promise keeper.
Comments
Remembering is a very active thing
Neil
Two features of this meditation that I find helpful. 1. We are still allowed to "remember" as we eat and drink. The fact that remembering is not the sum total of what can be said about the Supper does not mean that "remembering" has lost its value. 2. But at the same time the way you've worded this reminds us that "remembering" is a very active thing. There's something very different between looking at a rainbow and just thinking "oh yes, God promised", and looking at a rainbow and allowing God to remind us of his faithfulness through it.