God's Memorial Day

by Travis L Quertermous

From The Reminder, June 5, 2011

The last Monday of every May is Memorial Day, a holiday celebrated to honor the soldiers who gave their lives to defend our nation. It is certainly right and proper that we give these brave Americans such an honor as they have made the ultimate sacrifice for us all.

But did you know God also has a memorial day in honor of His Son, Jesus Christ, who gave his life to save us from sin and hell? It comes not just once a year, but every Sunday in honor of the resurrection of our Savior. The Bible makes it clear that Jesus arose from the dead on the first day of the week (Matt. 28:1). On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus Christ established the Lord’s Supper for Christians to remember His atoning death on their behalf. In Luke 22:19, Christ taught we “do this in remembrance of Me.” According to Acts 20:6-7, the early church observed the Lord’s Supper every Sunday and only on Sunday. We observe communion in memory of Christ’s death on the day of His resurrection. There is a vital spiritual connection between the Lord’s Day and the Lord’s Supper.

Sunday, then, is God’s Memorial Day in honor of the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ. The church gathers for worship every Sunday to honor God and His Son through the Lord’s Supper. If it is right to honor those who gave their lives for our country, is it even more right to honor Jesus Christ who gave His life to save us from hell? Will you be at church this Sunday (and every Sunday) to observe God’s Memorial Day?