The Greatest Memorial

By Brandon Baggett

On Monday, May 27, our busy country paused to celebrate an important holiday known as Memorial Day. Families all throughout this land enjoyed a day of relaxation and recreation. Burgers and hotdogs were consumed by the masses. Countless others took advantage of the various Memorial Day deals offered by many businesses. Memorial Day, though, is about remembering those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. The last Monday of May is a time to honor and mourn our military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The loyalty, courage, and sacrifice of these brave men and women is a profound reminder our freedom isn’t free.

I can’t help but think of another important memorial. Just before Jesus went to Calvary, the Savior instituted the Lord’s Supper (cf. Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20). Using unleavened bread to symbolize his body, along with fruit of the vine to represent his blood, Jesus set in motion a lasting memorial to aid his disciples in remembering his atoning work. Since the very beginning of the church in Acts 2, the Lord’s people have gathered each Sunday to take communion and remember Jesus (cf. Acts 2:42-47; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). It’s easy to forget. Yet God’s simple plan challenges us to literally begin each week by looking back on the cross and remembering Jesus.

Memorial Day helps us to remember our freedom isn’t free, and the Lord’s Supper is a weekly reminder our spiritual liberty came at a high price too. Please join me this week in thanking God for the selfless sacrifices of our brave military personnel, and let’s take the time to thank God for the ultimate sacrifice remembered in the greatest memorial of them all.

Brandon Baggett is preaching minister at Luverne Church of Christ.