In our country we have just observed May 31 as Memorial Day. How fitting it is to remember all those who have served to make sure we can have the freedoms we enjoy, and especially to remember those who have given their very lives for us. Over the years to some this special day has lost its meaning. Parents may have failed to explain the importance of the day, rather seeing it as a day of going to the beach, or having friends over for a cookout, or some other form of recreation. Proper recreation is not a bad thing, but this day means so much more than that.
There is another day of remembrance where a memorial has been set up so that man can honor the one who gave His all for mankind. That day is the Lord’s Day. Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper (communion) for a remembrance of His unselfish sacrifice for mankind. “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Matt. 26: 26 – 29). This memorial is to keep this great sacrifice ever before us, reminding us of God’s love for all mankind. Notice these passages: “ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3: 16, 17). “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him” (Romans 5:6 – 9).
The memorial set up by Christ was kept each first day of the week by the early Christians. “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42), “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight” (Acts 20:7). The Apostle Paul writing to those in Corinth who had abused this memorial said, “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body” (1 Cor. 11:23 – 29).
Memorial Day only comes once a year, but throughout the year we should remember those who have given all. The Lord’s Day comes once a week, may we never take it for granted as we remember the One who gave His all for our salvation.
There is another day of remembrance where a memorial has been set up so that man can honor the one who gave His all for mankind. That day is the Lord’s Day. Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper (communion) for a remembrance of His unselfish sacrifice for mankind. “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Matt. 26: 26 – 29). This memorial is to keep this great sacrifice ever before us, reminding us of God’s love for all mankind. Notice these passages: “ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3: 16, 17). “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him” (Romans 5:6 – 9).
The memorial set up by Christ was kept each first day of the week by the early Christians. “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42), “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight” (Acts 20:7). The Apostle Paul writing to those in Corinth who had abused this memorial said, “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body” (1 Cor. 11:23 – 29).
Memorial Day only comes once a year, but throughout the year we should remember those who have given all. The Lord’s Day comes once a week, may we never take it for granted as we remember the One who gave His all for our salvation.