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On Monday we celebrate Memorial Day. We honor the memory of those who died for our country. Perhaps no greater tragedy took place in our nation's history than the war between the states, brother against brother, American against American.
The Battle at Gettysburg, in July 1863, was especially devastating. Neither General Lee nor General Meade had wanted a confrontation at Gettysburg, but General Pettigrew's North Carolina brigade was marching barefoot, their shoes long since worn out. When an advertisement for men's shoes appeared in the Gettysburg paper, Pettigrew was ordered on a 9-mile barefoot march to seize the shoes. The Union side spotted them, and the eventual battle took place. In the battle, 21 Union and Confederate generals were killed or wounded. As Lee retreated into Virginia, the ambulance wagons stretched out some 17 miles long. Lee had suffered 28,000 casualties; Meade, 18,000.
On Nov. 19, Senator Edward Everett gave the main speech dedicating the Gettysburg cemetery. The ceremony was delayed for a month because Everett had declined to speak unless he was given more time to prepare an appropriate speech. Everett was asked to speak because he was known as a dynamic speaker. The ceremony was held before an audience of 15,000 people who had gathered that morning to catch a glimpse of President Lincoln, only to listen, instead, as Everett gave a speech lasting some two hours!
Everett's speech contained 13,607 words. After this long oration, Lincoln stood, wearing glasses as he glanced at his notes. He was on his feet less than three minutes, delivering just ten concise sentences, 268 words in all.
After he spoke, newspapers reported that he inserted two words which were not originally included in his written draft -- "under God." In fact, scholars' debate whether he actually said "that this nation (under God) shall have a new birth of freedom" or not. Some of the five remaining copies contain the phrase and some do not. In that magnificent speech, I like to think that Lincoln said, "under God." How can you leave out God? No memorial service would be complete without acknowledging the Almighty.
In 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, the Apostle Paul, playing the role of historian for all followers of Christ, leaves no room for debate. He recorded the words of a memorial service conducted by our Lord Jesus Christ, we call that communion or the Lord's supper. Maybe Jesus knew that we would have a tendency to forget. He understood that there is a tendency to get carried away with our holidays, our celebrations, our ceremonies, our services and we forget the One who died for us.
President Lincoln helped consecrate a cemetery that would serve as a witness to the death of many soldiers in their cause for freedom. But there is no grave for our Lord! He conquered death. For 40 days He walked and talked with His disciples. On the 40th day He ascended into heaven. On the 50th day after He had been crucified, the church began, on Pentecost. The Lord's Supper is our memorial which looks back to the blood that was shed, not on the battlefield, but on the cross. Jesus died for the cause of freedom, too. Freedom from our sins. There was a price paid for our forgiveness. Just as the Texans cried out: "Remember the Alamo" - remember a sacrifice paid. We, as Christians, observe the Lord's Supper, which reminds us of the Lord's words: "This do in remembrance of Me."
Lincoln had said in his Gettysburg address: "…we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom; and that this government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth." Those words inspired hope in a nation torn apart.
For Christ's followers, the Lord's Supper is a fitting memorial because it promises hope. The Lord's Supper is a memorial that inspires hope to all believers in Jesus. It proclaims the Lord's sacrificial death, an act of forgiveness for the entire world. Jesus died in our place. He offered His life for our sins. It was an act done not out of obligation, but out of love. We celebrate the Lord's Supper as a reminder of the sacrifice made for us, let us never forget the love that set us free from our burden of sin.
Just as President Lincolns' hope was the birth of freedom for our nation, The Lord's Supper gives us hope of a "new birth of freedom" that one day will include a new body, and an eternal life freed of the pains, sorrows, worries and death of this world.
Edward Everett, who made the principal address at the Gettysburg cemetery, wrote to Lincoln: "I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion in two hours as you did in two minutes." Lincoln inspired a nation with only 268 words, Jesus gave hope to a world and all generations of people for all time, including all of us, when He said in less than 33 words: "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me. This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
Let this Memorial Day remind you of those who sacrificed their lives for this nation. How selfish and ungrateful we would be not to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation's freedom. But, as Christians, let every Sunday be a memorial day of the sacrifice of our Lord and the promise of His return. How selfish and ungrateful we would be not to remember what He has done for us.
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Finding Faith is written and compiled by area pastors. This week's column comes from Pastor Mark Riley of Flemington First Church of Christ.