Memorial Day is a day to remember the men and women who have lost their lives while serving in our nation's military. I hope we will all take some time this year on May 26th to reflect on the sacrifices made to secure the freedoms we hold dear.
 

I've been preaching from the third chapter of John's gospel lately.  It contains in verse 16 what are perhaps the most widely known and recited words in the New Testament.
 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

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That single sentence contains in just 24 words what is the essence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the entire New Testament. That the love of God for His creation, including us, was so strong that He Himself came to Earth as a human being.  He lived among us as a sinless person, the only one who has ever lived.  He showed us and taught us what living a Godly life was like.  For that, we tortured Him to death, a death He went to willingly. But He didn't stay dead.

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After three days Jesus rose from the dead, showing us His absolute victory over both sin and death.  In doing so He validated His teachings as divine and true, and then He departed to take His position at the right hand of God the Father after promising He would return one day to take all believers to live with Him eternally.

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Memorial observances are important.  Every time we take communion we are instructed to reflect on Jesus' sacrifice and participate in remembrance of Him. This Memorial Day, in addition to reflecting on the lives lost to buy our freedom, let us also take a moment to reflect on the life Jesus lived and sacrificed in order to free us from the penalty of our sins, and how He purchased with His own blood the opportunity to enjoy eternal life in His presence.
 

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