A Jot from John
In 1966, Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y., the “birthplace” of Memorial Day. There, a ceremony on May 5, 1866, honored local veterans who had fought in the Civil War. Businesses closed and residents flew flags at half-staff. Supporters of Waterloo’s claim say earlier observances in other places were either informal, not community-wide, or one-time events.
By the end of the 19th century, Memorial Day ceremonies were being held on May 30th throughout the nation. State Legislatures passed proclamations designating the day, and the Army and Navy adopted regulations for proper observance at their facilities. It wasn’t until after WW1, however, that the day was expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress, though it is still often called Decoration Day. It was then also placed on the last Monday in May, as were some other federal holidays. I personally think that memorials are a good thing, because it helps us to remember the past events and it can help us to remember to look to future events. May I, at this time, point out that man did not come up with the concept of memorials, God did.
Our first memorial comes from Exodus 12:11: “And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in hast, It is the LORD’S Passover.” This was a memorial for Israel to remember how God had delivered them from Egyptian bondage. A memorial is not limited to just remembering a war but can be used to remember any event. God wanted the children of Israel to observe the Passover every single year. When a Jew would reflect upon what God had done for them it would bring things back into perspective. It is easy for us to take things for granted but memorials help remind us of the work that was done so that we can have the blessings that we have today.
Our next memorial comes from Joshua 4:4-7: 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man: 5 And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:6 That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?7 Then ye shall answer them . . .”
These stones would be a visual reminder of how God guided His people into the promise land. Joshua set up two memorials. 1) The first one marked where the priest stood in the middle of the river Jordon. 2) The second was where the children of Israel camped for the first time after crossing the river.
Again, we see this idea of where these memorials were to be taught from generation to generation.
Our third memorial is that of the Lord’s Supper Matthew 26:26-29: 26 “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. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.29 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”.
They "came together" to eat the Supper. These saints did not regard the Supper as a private devotion. Neither did they care so little for it that they carried it with them wherever they went like a sack lunch. Furthermore, Paul's determination to remain in Troas is proof this is the arrangement the Lord desires for the His Supper. The apostle could have eaten on the road, by himself or with those of his company. However, he chose to eat with disciples in their assemblies (cf. Acts 21:4).
They came together to break bread in order to preach Christ's death (1 Cor. 11:26). The Christians at Troas understood the importance of the memorial feast. They could see in it a perpetual reminder of the promise of Christ's return and the assurance of their own resurrection by virtue of His atoning death and triumphant resurrection from the grave. This message of hope had to be shared. They were truly "one bread" and "one cup," even as they were “one body” (1 Cor. 10:16-17). Assembled together they could all eat that bread and drink that cup in remembrance of Christ (1 Cor. 11:27-28).
Do you discern the Lord’s body and show His death, in this memorial, with the saints when they come together on each Lord’s Day?
Onward Rejoicing,
John B. Daniels, Associate Minister
