God’s Memorial Day

SUMMARY: The themes of remembrance and sacrifice are explored in this Memorial Day message.

“Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!” – 2 Samuel 1:19 (ESV)

A Memorial Day Message from Tim Mahoney

For many of us in America, Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer. For my own family it was when we would launch our camping season. We would pack the car with food, kids and gear and head to northern Wisconsin. For 30 years we camped with several families on 15 wooded acres that were surrounded by lakes and the county forest. It was a special time for fishing, swimming and roasting marshmallows around the campfire. At night the Milky Way would fill the sky and sometimes we would see the northern lights dancing in the heavens.

Freedom has a Price

But the reason we have Memorial Day is much more serious and sometimes forgotten. This is a day for honoring and mourning those who have lost their lives in the military service of our country. Many of the freedoms we have been able to enjoy have come at a great price paid by others.

Do not Forget What God did by Bringing You out of Egypt 

In the book of Exodus chapter 12, God tells Moses to prepare a special meal of a male lamb or a goat without defect. They were to slaughter it and put it’s blood on their doorposts.

For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt. “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.” – Exodus 12:12-14 (ESV)

This event was called the Passover and throughout the Scriptures there are over 100 warnings not to forget what God had done to bring the Israelites out of Egypt with a mighty hand.

“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children.” – Deuteronomy 4:9 (ESV)

“Be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” – Deuteronomy 6:12 (ESV)

For Christians, there is a connection to these warnings as well in the life of Christ. The last supper was the Passover, which Jesus celebrated with his disciples.

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” – Luke 22:19 (ESV)

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. – Matthew 26:27-28 (ESV)

For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. – 1 Corinthians 5:7b (ESV)

History shows us that the price for freedom has been the shedding of blood. For about 3500 years the Passover event has been observed by Jewish believers around the world. And for nearly 2000 years Christians have observed communion as they have recognized Jesus as the Passover lamb who takes away the sins of the world.

Let’s not forget the price for our freedom. Keep on Thinking.

TOP PHOTO: Blood on the doorposts from the film Patterns of Evidence: The Exodus. (© 2015 Patterns of Evidence LLC)