In Memory

By Walter S. Weekly

[Page 157]

     The president of the United States stands before the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He lays a wreath upon the tomb, offers brief remarks, bows his head and solemnly turns away. Although in his presence I cannot hear his remarks, so I present myself to him. Seeing that he is, in my judgment a gentleman, kind, courteous, and considerate, I ask him, "Mr. President, why did you just place that wreath on the tomb?" He does not brush me off lightly by saying that it was his duty and an obligation of his office. It means more to him than that.

     So he answers, "Sir, I placed the wreath on the tomb to commemorate the death of all the young men who have given their lives on the battlefield that this generation, and other generations to come, might have life, liberty and the right to pursue happiness. I did it to show that the sacrifice of these noble men was not in vain."

     We gather about the table of the Lord to commemorate the death of one who was greater, and who while young in years gave his life on the battlefield, against Satan and all of his forces. He died that all men might truly have life, liberty and the right to pursue happiness. We do not believe that his death was in vain. We believe that he is living now, that he is at the right hand of God in heaven, making intercession for us.

     It was by means of his virgin birth, his life, his death, his burial, his resurrection, his ascension, his glorification and his coronation, that it was made possible for him to grant to his faithful followers the three great freedoms: (1) Freedom from law (Rom. 8:2; Gal. 5:1); (2) Freedom from sin (John 2:32, 36; Romans 6:18-22); (3) Freedom from the bondage of corruption (Romans 8:21).

     We believe that such a person who is alive now and has become the author of such tremendous freedoms deserves our commemoration. To me, this is the real purpose of our assembling together on the Lord's Day (Acts 20:7). We gather to remember Jesus Christ, by means of the Lord's Supper. As he said, "This do in remembrance of me." When we do this we demonstrate that his sacrifice was not in vain.

     "For the tradition which I handed on to you came to me from the Lord himself: that the Lord Jesus, on the night of his arrest, took bread, and after giving thanks to God, broke it and said, 'This is my body which is for you, do this as a memorial of me.' In the same way he took the cup after supper and said, 'This cup is the new covenant sealed by my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me.' For every time that you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes" (1 Corinthians 11:23-26. NEB).