Memorial Day

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Memorial Day

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr


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Note: As a reminder, there is only one lesson uploaded on the 4th Sunday, as our evening service is devoted primarily to singing. Thanks for considering these lessons. TATJR

Sermons From the Calendar (10)

We are continuing our “Lessons from the calendar” series today.  Of course, tomorrow is Memorial Day.  This is one of the major national holidays on our calendar.  It takes place the last Monday of May each year (a floating holiday).  Its purpose is to honor and remember U.S. military personnel who fell while serving in the various branches of military.   It is a day with local ceremonies of remembrance and the decoration of graves of those honored, with American flags.  It was first observed May 30, 1868 at the end of the Civil war and called “Decoration Day” at that time.  It was typically observed on May 30 each year until 1968 when congress passed the “Uniform Monday Holiday Act” which moved four holidays to Monday to give 4 day weekends.  It was at that time that the last Monday in May became the official national holiday.  In 1971, the name was standardized as “Memorial Day”.

As we have noted throughout this study, it is not our intent to observe this holiday as the church.  We do not find days such as this (national or international) being observed in the Bible.  Nor do we find churches honoring their fallen “soldiers” (even spiritual).  However, as we have stated as the purpose of this study, there are Biblical aspects related to the purpose of holidays.  Memorial Day is a memorial calling us to pause and remember.

In the Bible, we find various memorials.  Today, that is what I would like to focus on.

  1. The significance of memorials
    1. Memorials come in different forms – from designating a specific day (or timeframe), to monuments and markers, to a service remembering the passing of a loved one, or other tributes designed to help people remember something.
    2. They have been a part of history since early civilization. “Memorials” have been constructed to honor gods (aka – idols), people, and events, etc.  Some are minimal, while others are “monumental” (the pyramids of Egypt honoring various Pharaohs).  We finds the remnants of temples millennia old.  Memorials are a link to the past, and if studied help us appreciate history.
    3. Memorials are useful because they can:[1]
      1. Honor individuals and special occasions. Memorials are established with a purpose.
      2. Help us remember something – either an event or a person or place. Memorials are about recalling history.  They help us to think about successes and failures of the past.
      3. They provide opportunities to teach – especially the next generation. E.g., Deuteronomy 6:6-10, What do these stones mean? – stones from the Jordan – Joshua 4:5; As Passover was observed it was a teaching moment – Exodus 12:26-28.
      4. To help people understand – often memorials are designed to help people recall the occasion and remember what happened, or who that person was. A good (public) memorial will include explanations and often exhibits.
      5. To cause us to pause and think! Typically, memorials are designed to cause people to think more seriously about what their purpose is.   For example: With Memorial Day, we realize that our freedoms are linked to the sacrifices of others.  We might also be reminded about the brevity of life (James 4:14).
      6. To provoke gratitude – a memorial can cause someone to think about sacrifices made and humble us to be thankful for what was done. Such OUGHT to be our cause for observing Memorial Day.  Are we grateful for the price paid by others?
      7. To bring us together – often memorials will cause people to pause and set aside differences to remember its purpose. They can also link us together through our past. Sadly some memorials do the opposite, whether intentional or not – they polarize.
      8. Provide closure – this is one reason we have memorials after the passing of a loved one.
    4. Many of the points just mentioned are principles worthy to consider as we study our Bibles and consider some of the memorials found therein.
  2. Some memorials in the Bible
    1. Various types of memorials
      1. Genesis 31:45-49 – Jacob set up a memorial pillar as he fled from Laban and returns to Canaan with his family. He will come back later.
      2. Exodus 20:8 – Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Every week they were pause from their labors and give a day to YHWH.  A day of contemplation, worship and rest.  The Sabbath was a lynchpin for Israelites.
      3. Exodus 24:3-4 – as Israel made a covenant with YHWH at Mt. Sinai, moses built an altar at the base of the mountain and twelve “pillars” (memorial stones – LEB). It was a holy place with boundaries.
      4. Exodus 28:29 – the breastplate of Aaron (the High Priest) had the names of the 12 tribes inscribed as a memorial. A reminder who he was serving and represented.
      5. Esther 9:26-28 – after Esther provides for Israel’s deliverance while in captivity, the Jews annually observed the feast of Purim as a memorial.
    2. Exodus 17:14 – Words written as a memorial (reminder) – that the Amalekites were to be utterly destroyed.
      1. Exodus 34:27-28 – Moses is instructed to write words of the covenant, the 10 commandments. They would be placed in (or next to) the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:16).
      2. 2 Peter 1:12-15 – Peter wrote to them so that they would remember.
      3. Philippians 3:1- Paul wrote the same things as a matter of safety for them. Let us never forget that God’s word is to be our guide through life – a REMINDER of what He desires and demands of us.  We need to read and study it regularly.  It in a sense, it is a memorial.
    3. Hebrews 9:4 – The Ark of the Covenant contained 3 items: 1) The pot of manna – a memorial of God’s provisions for the people; 2) Aaron’s rod that budded – a memorial of God’s authority; 3) The tablets – a memorial of God’s law.
    4. Exodus 12:14 – the Passover. Instituted as the 10th plague against Egypt was announced.  A very significant occasion as it reminded them of their exodus and how YHWH delivered Israel from the Egyptians.  They were to prepare by removing all leaven from their homes and slaying a lamb and putting some of its blood on the doorposts and mantle of their home.  If they complied, the angel of death would pass over their home.   As they prepared the Passover was instituted as an annual observance.   It served as a memorial that God CAN save His people.
    5. Joshua 4:5-6 – 12 stones taken from the Jordan river as Israel finally crosses into their promised land. A person from each tribe was instructed to take a stone from the Jordan and bring it with them.  They were set up as a memorial that God had kept His word and given them the land.  Not only could He deliver His people, but He could also sustain them (for 40 years).  The monument was there and when their children asked the purpose, they could be taught about God.
    6. Matthew 26:13 – Mary anoints the feet of Jesus with a costly oil. (6-13), we are in the final days leading up to the betrayal of Jesus.  Jesus is in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper (whom He likely healed) and she comes and anoints his feet with a very costly oil and wiped His feet with her hair (John 12:3). The disciples are critical because of the cost, noting the money could have been used to feed the poor.  But Jesus replies that what Mary did was a commendable work for Him.  The poor you always have, but me you do not.  He announced it was for His burial.  Then we have this statement, Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.  We read this and we are reminded of the power of recorded history.  And we know that all God expects of us is what we are capable of doing, whether little or much.
    7. The first day of the week– Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 – CLEARLY, disciples met on Sunday as recorded in scripture, as opposed to the Sabbath. When we meet on Sunday, we ought to be reminded that on that day – Jesus arose (Matthew 28:1-2 , etc.) and on that day the church began (Acts 2:1 – Pentecost was always on a Sunday – Leviticus 23:15-16).
    8. Luke 22:19, 1 Corinthians 11:24-25 – the Lord’s Supper – “Do this in remembrance of Me”. We do this weekly (Acts 20:7) to remember what Jesus did to give us hope.  It is our weekly memorial. Consider the following as we partake of the Lord’s Supper.
      1. We honor Jesus because He was willing to die for us. 1 Timtohy 1:16-17, John 5:23.  WE are manifesting our belief in Jesus as we partake each week.
      2. We remember WHAT He did and why – Jesus emphasized that as He explained what each emblem represented.
      3. We teach about this, often with songs and some sort of reading or thoughts to help prepare our minds as we partake.
      4. We help others to understand its significance – by describing what He did AND following the prescribed pattern (unleavened bread and “fruit of the vine”).
      5. We encourage people to think as they partake – 1 Corinthians 11:27-29.
      6. This memorial OUGHT to produce gratitude. We have hope because of the forgiveness found in His blood.
      7. It brings us together – Acts 20:7, cf. 1 Corinthians 11:20-21 – it was done as they assembled.
      8. It can provide closure – we have hope because of that sacrifice. 1 Corinthians 11:26 – we proclaim His death (and resurrection) until He returns. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial filled with hope. It encourages us to endure

Memorials are good and meaningful.  It would do our society good if we all genuinely paused to consider the meaning of various holidays.  And if that be true in our material realm, how much more so in the spiritual realm.  Let us pause and remember why we are here.  Our gathering involves the greatest memorial of all.  How are you remembering Jesus?  Think about it!

[1] The following list was compiled from 2 general articles about memorials.
1) Why we Establish Memorials and How to Create One, Kate Miller-Wilso, 4/26/2022; https://www.lovetoknow.com/life/grief-loss/why-we-establish-memorials
2) Why We Have Memorials: Explained Simply (by Ryan), 6/7/2024; https://www.confinity.com/culture/why-do-we-have-memorials-explained-in-easy-words

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