Memorial Day 2023
Notes
Transcript
“MEMORIAL DAY”
I lived near Arlington Cemetery for many years and have visited it numerous times. It is impressive; it has rituals and ceremonies, at the Tomb of the unknowns, there is a constant patrol, a guard ceremony. It shows that the honor of this dead unknown soldier has honor in death, and is not forgotten. He deserves the same honor as the living....
“Here rests in honored glory, An American Soldier, known but to God”
Man Makes Memorials: To Remember Great Events. Washington is a city filled with monuments for this purpose.
Memorials in Scripture:
Exodus 12:14, The blood of the passover “God remembered” not to kill them
Lev 23; the feast of Tabernacles, Israel lived in small tents to Remember that they were without homes during their rescue from Slavery in Egypt
Exodus 28:12
Memorializes PEOPLE
6 “Make the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen—the work of a skilled craftsman. 7 It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be fastened. 8 Its skillfully woven waistband is to be like it—of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen.
9 “Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel 10 in the order of their birth—six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other. 11 Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings 12 and fasten them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear the names on his shoulders as a memorial before the Lord. 13 Make gold filigree settings 14 and two braided chains of pure gold, like a rope, and attach the chains to the settings. 1
1 The Holy Bible: New International Version (Ex 28:6–14). (1984). Zondervan.
1: God Remembers the PEOPLE not just events.
I heard a radio program this am, about prison cemeteries in NYC. They have graveyards where they bury prisoners who have no families, or who’s families have no means for a proper burial. For more than a century they they have buried these men and women with headstone containing only their prisoner ID number. A CITY PASTOR HEARD ABOUT THIS and has initiated a program to create name plates and attach them to all of these headstones. It is now the law in NY’s prison cemeteries, and they have undertaken to add names to every headstone.
“In recognition of the idea that people shouldn’t be defined in eternity by their periods of incarceration, state officials recently and quietly changed course.”
Photo of Prisoner Headstone
These stones MEMORIALIZE THE FACT THAT EVERYONE NEEDS A CHANCE TO BE FORGIVEN AND NOT TO HAVE THEIR DEEDS FOLLOW THEM FOREVER:
LUKE 22:7-19
7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”
9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.
10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there.”
13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 1
1 The Holy Bible: New International Version (Lk 22:7–19). (1984). Zondervan.
Jesus wants to be REMEMBERED;
Like the Passover was a memorial of freedom from death in Egypt, Jesus is a living Memorial of our freedom, “Operation Enduring Freedom” if you will.
MEMORIALS, LIKE THEIR NAME SUGGESTS CREATE A MEMORY; OF GREAT DEEDS, OF GREAT SACRIFICE AND OF THE FREEDOM THAT THOSE DEEDS ADN SACRIFICES PRODUCE FOR OTHER MEN ADN WOMEN.
JESUS DESERVES TO BE MEMORIALIZED; COMMUNION IS OUR TIME OF MEMORIAL.