Memorial Day

May 29, 2023

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States to honor and mourn the U.S. Military personnel who have died while serving in our armed forces.

The first national observance of Memorial Day took place on May 30, 1868 to honor the Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. Following the World Wars, it turned into a day of remembrance for all members of the U.S. military who fought and died in service.

Many of us have lost loved ones, or know someone, who fought and died for our freedom.This is a day when we pause to remember the sacrifice these men and women made for us.

As Christ followers, we fully understand the idea of remembering one who died serving us. It was on the cross that Jesus gave his life on our behalf, to pay a penalty we owed but could not pay.

The Apostle Paul calls us to remember what Jesus did for us. In 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, he writes:

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.

- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

When we, as a church, take Holy Communion, also known as the Eucharist or Lord’s Supper, we are not only remembering that Jesus died for us, but we also celebrate that He was resurrected from the grave…and lives for us. And, we eagerly await His return when He will restore all things to Himself.

On this Memorial Day, may we indeed stop to remember those who gave their lives for the freedoms we experience in this great country of ours. But more importantly, may we also remember the ONE who gave His life to free us from the penalty of sin.

Because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, we are indeed set free to live life abundantly here on earth and to know that Heaven awaits us, where life, in its perfect form, will be lived out with Him for all of eternity.