Seems to be a rather confusing statement to make, but for too long, we as an organization have not been doing as Jesus commanded his disciples to do: "Keep doing this in remembrance of me" ..
Before I start, let me set a few things straight. I am currently a baptized member of Jehovah's Witnesses. I do not view myself as an brother [Edit: for some reason, when I type a-p-o-s-t-a-t-e, it is automatically replaced with the word 'brother' very odd!], nor am I actively seeking to encourage others to leave (in fact, quite the opposite). I also don't intend on starting any kind of movement to "reform" the organization as it stands. My motive is simple: to inform. Nothing more, Nothing less.
Tonight, most will gather to observe the memorial of Christ's death. However, in reality, most of us are merely observing others who are observing the memorial. Let's read Jesus' words together as recorded in Luke 22:19, 20 (New American Standard Version):
"And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood."
The Watchtower Society already does a commendable job of explaining how Jesus' death benefits mankind and why we need it in the first place, so I do not need to explain this here. Where things go awry is how they explain who is supposed to consume the emblems mentioned in the above scripture. According to the relevant article on JW.org (highlighted in blue and taken from https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/lords-supper/ under the subheading "Who partake", it says:
"Jesus’ shed blood established “a new covenant” that replaced the covenant between Jehovah God and the ancient nation of Israel. (Hebrews 8:10-13)"
That is absolutely correct, and is actually the reason that all Jehovah's Witnesses should partake. The passover was the type (shadow) under the old law covenant, and as pointed out by the Apostle Paul, it was only temporary and insufficient, for it's not possible for the blood of animals to atone for human sins. (Hebrews 10:4)
Interestingly enough, under the old covenant, all had to observe the passover--including the alien resident. There were no observers, as the law specifically states that it was one statute for both groups. (Numbers 9:14)
"Those who are in that new covenant partake of the Memorial emblems. It includes, not all Christians, but only “those who have been called” in a special way by God. (Hebrews 9:15; Luke 22:20) These ones will rule in heaven with Christ, and the Bible says that just 144,000 people receive that privilege.—Luke 22:28-30;Revelation 5:9, 10; 14:1, 3."
This explanation makes no sense for a couple of reasons: Jesus stated that his blood (symbolized by the wine) is poured out for 'you'. Is Jesus inferring here that his death was only meant for the 144,000 anointed ones?
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
This is probably the most famous bible verse, and the answer to the above question is obvious: Jesus' death is for all obedient mankind, and not just limited to the 144,000. The Watchtower Society actually makes this same point (see: https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/watchtower-no2-2016-march/why-did-jesus-die/ ). However, they try to separate the benefits of the ransom from the new covenant, when there is no such divide. As Jesus said, "This cup which is poured for you IS the new covenant .." or as the New World Translation puts it: "This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood"
To prove that Jesus' command to partake of the emblems included all his disciples, notice what he said to the Jews at the beginning of his ministry:
"This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh." Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?" So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. (John 6:51-53 NASV)
The Apostle Paul again pointed out that Jesus' shed blood was not just for the anointed (he makes no such division), nor is there any inference that Jesus is the mediator just for the anointed few:
"But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to [come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance." (Hebrews 9:11-15)
Lastly, but not least, in John's vision of the Great Crowd that comes out of the great tribulation, notice how he describes them:
Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?" I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. "For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them." (Revelation 7:13, 14)
Is it really possible for the great crowd who survived the great war of Armageddon to have figuratively "washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" and not be part of the new covenant? Jesus' own words are clear that this cannot be the case as "this cup MEANS the new covenant by virtue of my BLOOD.
So really, whether one's everlasting life is on earth or in heaven has nothing to do with the memorial. The memorial is all about Jehovah's love for mankind and the ultimate fulfillment of the very first prophecy he uttered in the Garden of Eden. He did this as great cost to himself, as he used his only-begotten Son, the one that has been with him the longest, to accomplish his goal to redeem righteous mankind while satisfying the demands of his perfect justice. Nowhere did Jesus (or his apostles) ever limit who can partake in this momentous occasion, and hence, no has the authority to override Jesus' stated command. So let me urge all to observe the memorial of Jesus' death as he laid out in scripture. Moreover, let us show our appreciation by making sure our lives reflect Jesus' sacrifice. If we do not, then the memorial is of no value. We then actually trample on Jesus' sacrifice thereby pronouncing judgment upon ourselves. (1 Corinthians 11:27-30)