Carl’s Cogitations: The Ultimate Sacrifice

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On the last Monday of May a vast number of individuals residing within the United States of America gather at the homes of friends and family or together at some public venue to enjoy each other’s company and some taste offerings from the grill. Many simply approach the day as an extra day off attached to the preceding weekend. Still others refer to the activities of the day as a ‘Memorial Celebration.’ While gathering with friends and family is always good and I highly encourage such activities whenever possible…I shutter at those that attach ‘celebration’ to the last day of May. Such an association causes me to assume that they do not truly know what they are ‘celebrating.

Memorial Day is an American holiday, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Military. With the preceding definition in mind consider the general atmosphere at most funerals or visitations when an individual passes from this life. Even if we label it a ‘Celebration of Life’ the mood is generally not celebratory. Likewise, when we periodically visit the grave of a loved one who has departed, we generally are in a somber and sober frame of mind. This is the atmosphere and the mood of Memorial Day…it is a day to remember and honor our died Service men and women.

Remembering and honoring one who has made the ultimate sacrifice of giving their life in service to others is a concept God and His Son know very well. After all that was the purpose for which the Word became flesh (John 1:1,14,29; John 15:13; 1 John 2:1-2), to die in order to provide freedom from sin. In addition to the passages from John and 1 John, take a moment to read through Colossians 1:9-23 as it is a beautiful discourse written by Paul on all that has been accomplished on our behalf by Jesus. When it comes to the great sacrifice that our Lord and Savior made for us there is a memorial observance that was instituted by the Savior Himself.

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

Paul was reminding the Christians in Corinth about this sacred memorial instituted to remember the sacrifice made by Jesus. This was a simple solemn observance that both scripture and the recorded practices of the first century church A.D. testify to their practice of this observance on the first day of every week. Thus, in keeping with this pattern of scriptural testimony and the recorded practice of the early church, we too at the Main Street Church of Christ remember our Lord’s sacrifice on the first day of every week with this simple observance of bread and the fruit of the vine. And this we do with solemn and reverent introspection.

In a similar fashion Memorial Day has been instituted by the people of the United States of America as an annual pause in the normal day to day lives of the citizenry to remember the great price paid for the freedom to enjoy our everyday life. So, I encourage you to approach all future Memorial Days with the intent to dedicate some part of the day to pause and reflect on the sacrifice made by so many for countless others. Many communities have some kind of ceremony and participating in that event would be a great way to join in with others in collectively honoring the men and women who sacrificed it all.

(Carl Hartman is the Minister at Main Street Church of Christ in Lockney)

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