Memorial Day: “The Cost of Freedom is Blood”
I Corinthians 11:23-26
Memorial day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. It traces its roots back to 1868 when General John Logan, of the Grand Army of the Republic, declared May 30th as a day of remembrance. Flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The day was originally called “Decoration Day.” It is sometimes called “Poppy Day” because artificial red poppies, which were made by disabled veterans, are sold. The money is used to benefit servicemen in need. In December of 2000, Congress passed a resolution which asks all Americans “to voluntarily and informally observe a Moment of Remembrance and respect,” at 3:00 local time.
Tomorrow is the official Memorial Holiday. Many people see it as just a 3-day weekend. But for those who have lost someone because of war or military action, it means much more than a day off. In fact, every American ought to recognize this day in honor of those who spilled their blood to make America what she is today--free, strong, and a nation worth fighting for.
Because men have died for this country, we have the right to preach God’s word freely. We have the right to live at peace in our own homes. We have the right to pursue peace, prosperity and happiness. Memorial Day is a time when we remember a sobering fact: The Cost of Freedom is Blood.
Once a year we observe Memorial Day. But for the Christian, every week is a celebration of the Memorial of Christ. Jesus fought the armies of Hell so that we can be set free. For the Christian, every Sunday is a Memorial Day.
On Memorial Day we (1) Mourn the Loss
When we remember loved ones who have died, we often tend to think of the “If Only’s:” “If only I had told him I loved him.” “If only I had been with her at the end.” “If only I hadn’t spoken so harshly.” We replay our regrets over and over in our minds. But we ultimately know those “If Only’s” would not change a thing.
On the Lord’s Memorial Day, we can’t help but think of a big“If Only.” “If only we had not sinned He would not have had to die.” The truth is, we are to blame. When we come to the Lord’s Memorial, we stand before a mirror and face the truth in Romans 3:23: All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
We realize once again: I am the one to blame. I caused all his suffering. He was humiliated, beaten, spit upon, and treated as a sinner because I am a sinner. And we know that if there only been one sinner who was lost, He still would have died. His love is that great.
Mourning the loss is the first thing we must do as we observe the Memorial of our Lord. At Communion, the first thing we do with the bread is to break it. Whether we break it with our hands or we chew it, we break the bread. This symbolizes the fact that our sin broke the body of Christ.
On Memorial Day we also (2) Remember the Lives
Part of emotional healing in the process of grief is to remember the life of the loved one who has passed. The Headstones we put on graves are a testimony to how we remember these loved ones. Let me share with you some epitaphs I have read on Headstones:
· Gone So Soon
· Beloved Son
· Though we will miss you much, we know you rest with God.
· Safe in the Arms of Jesus
· Gone, but Not Forgotten
All of these messages tell us that these people are dearly remembered. Our Communion Tables are inscribed with these words: Do this in remembrance of me. Every week, we set aside time to remember Jesus.
1 Corinthians 11:24 says When he had given thanks, he broke the bread and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."
What do we remember about Jesus? We remember his life and teachings. But more than that, we remember His sacrificial death.
At the Lord’s Table we do more than walk around a Monument and grieve. We also remember his Victory over Death. We remember His resurrection. We have fellowship with a living Savior as our hearts reach out by faith.
Lastly, on Memorial Day we (3) Give Thanks for the Sacrifice
All the heroic acts on battlefields throughout history have made our country what it is today. We enjoy freedom and wealth that are un-equaled. But our freedom and our luxuries have come at a great price. We enjoy freedom in America because men have died for our country. The cost of freedom is blood.
In a similar way, Jesus gave his life to set us free from slavery of sin and death. For this we must be eternally thankful. In 1 Corinthians 11:25 Jesus says: 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."
When we drink the juice, we give thanks for our forgiveness. The juice symbolizes the blood of Jesus that He shed to cleanse our hearts from sin. Today as we come to the Memorial Table of Christ, we will take time to
1-Mourn the loss of the body of Christ
2-Remember the life, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus
3-Give heartfelt thanks for His sacrifice.
It is through the blood of Christ that we are Redeemed. It is Jesus who grants to us mercy and peace through His broken body and His blood. As we prepare to take the Lord’s Supper together I want to introduce a new song to you with words that invite our Redeemer to meet with us at His Table of Remembrance.
· While we are singing, the men will serve communion.
· Today we’re asking you to hold the bread and the cup.
· After everyone has been served, we will partake together.
Let us meet with our Redeemer at the table he has spread before us.
Sing: Come Oh Redeemer, Come.
(COMMUNION SERVED while Special Music is sung. )
PARTAKING OF COMMUNION:
23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."
TAKE THE BREAD
25In 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." 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
TAKE THE CUP
TRANSITION TO INVITATION:
Perhaps the Memorial we observed today is unfamiliar to you.
Maybe you are outside of Christ. You can have the forgiveness that is promised to all.
