Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, is an official American holiday held on the last Monday of May each year, in remembrance of US military personnel who have lost their lives in battles of war on home soil or abroad. It is appropriate that we have a day specifically set aside to remember and honor brave men and women who fought and died for the sake of our country. We are proud of what they gave, though we grieve for lives lost too soon. It is easy for us to remember our loved ones and we will never forget them. Sadly, because of covid-19 this year, the customary festivities and parades to honor these soldiers are not being held for the first time in decades. We can still remember! We cannot forget.
On a greater level, we also must not forget the death made, not for our country’s freedom, but for our personal salvation. The only Son of God, Jesus Christ, died for each of us and in our place, so that we have the opportunity for life eternal. Jesus willingly came to earth in order to serve and to teach and then to die for you and me. He died bearing the weight of our combined sins on the cross at Calvary. He endured ridicule, mockery and flogging in order to pay the penalty, not for Himself, but for each of our sins. His suffering was so great and the sin was so heinous that God, the Father, could not even look upon His own Son at the moment of death. Why? “For God so loved the word, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). God gave a way to eternal life through the sacrifice of His Son for us. Our part is to believe and obey!
Just as Memorial Day helps us remember soldiers who have died for our country, Jesus left a memorial, too. Many churches display the emblems of communion, the bread and the wine, on a table carved with the words “Do This in Remembrance of Me”. This is called the Lord’s Supper or time of Communion. Paul gives us very specific directions from Jesus on how we are to partake in I Corinthians 12:23 – 29.
Paul says, “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you. The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
Next, a qualification is given. “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.” In other words, we are exhorted to focus during communion time only on what Jesus did for us when he died on Calvary. This is not the time to think about lunch or Sunday afternoon plans or even to whisper to the person sitting next to you, but rather think about the great gift Jesus gave in substitution for our sin!
Let’s remember fallen soldiers with honor and respect.
Let’s remember Jesus’ death with praise and thanksgiving.