The Lord's Supper: A Memorial
Poem★★★This is the sole direction which our Lord gave regarding this great rite. Nothing could be simpler, nothing more human than His appointment of this sacrament. Lifting the material of the supper before Him, He bids His disciples make the simple act of eating and drinking His memorial.
“You will not forget me,” He says, “and this will recall me to your mind.” As the friend who is setting out on a long absence or is passing forever from earth puts into our hands his portrait or something he has used or worn or prized, and is pleased to think that we shall treasure it for his sake, so did Christ on the eve of His death secure this one thing, that His disciples should have a memento by which to remember Him.
The point
Christ's institution of the Lord's Supper is compared to a friend giving a portrait or cherished object as a memento before a long absence—a simple memorial to ensure remembrance.