By Doug Redford
In 2 Corinthians 1:20, Paul writes, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.” The word Amen has its linguistic roots in Hebrew. The Old Testament word often translated as “faithfulness” in our Bibles is derived from a Hebrew word from which we get the word Amen. Jeremiah used that word in Lamentations 3:23 when he wrote as part of his tribute to the Lord’s never-failing compassions, “Great is your faithfulness.” Even during a time of lamenting, following the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians and their destruction of Solomon’s great temple, God’s Amen could not be silenced.
Paul tells us that God’s ultimate Amen (the Amen of Amens) is the fulfillment of his promises in Jesus Christ. Think especially of the Old Testament prophecies, which Paul as Saul the Pharisee was aware of as part of his heritage. Those prophecies took on new meaning when Saul became a follower of Jesus. In fact, he could never really say Amen to those prophecies until he came to know their fulfillment in Jesus. That Amen was never silenced for Paul; even when persecution intensified and he knew that his earthly life was nearing an end, he could still proclaim, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (2 Timothy 4:18).
The only time many of us may use the word Amen is at the conclusion of a prayer. But think of the word as an appropriate response after partaking of Communion. Consider how Jesus has not only fulfilled the promises of the Old Testament, but also how he has fulfilled his promises in your life: promises including forgiveness, hope, and eternal life. And don’t forget the promises that are yet to be fulfilled in the place he is preparing for all Christians.
We sometimes speak of “saying grace” before a meal. Communion is a meal that says grace by reminding us of the price paid to fulfill all that God promised to provide for the redemption of sinful humanity. His Amen could not be silenced by those who desired to crucify Jesus and smother his voice. Communion is a fitting time to add our Amen to Paul’s and to say to the Lord, with Jeremiah, “Great is your faithfulness.”
Doug Redford has served in the preaching ministry, as an editor of adult Sunday school curriculum, and as a Bible college professor. Now retired, he continues to write and speak as opportunities come.
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