M-G: 5.30.11 // Declaration Day, Luke 22:19

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Any student of prophecy realizes that our nation will never again experience a period of peace since the attacks on 9.11.2001. Pearl Harbor awakened a sleeping giant, but 911 reawakened a nation that can no longer afford to go to sleep again due to the ferocious nature of the enemy who is bent on death or capitulation of all infidels worldwide.  The Japanese military targeted military assets at Pearl, but Islamic extremists attacked civilian “infidels” on American soil.

On the last Monday in May, once known as Declaration Day, Memorial Day is a day in remembrance of those brave men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. Sadly, each passing year will only increase the body count of those to be remembered in a never-ending war combating terrorism.  There is another war that has been raging since the fall of man, a spiritual war for the souls of men.

Before Christ went to the cross to liberate man from the penalty of sin, we have the scene of Jesus in the upper room with the twelve apostles at the Passover feast saying, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Lk 22:15). This is the Lord’s Supper; it is also referred to as the Eucharist derived from the Greek phrase translated “gave thanks” in Lk 22:17. The bread symbolized His body and the fruit of the vine represented his blood to be unselfishly offered on the cross for the benefit of mankind (Jn 3:16). 

Good Friday is our spiritual rendition of Memorial Day where we remember how Christ struggled up that hill of the skulls, bloodied, bruised, battered, shredded to a pulp from the hands of wicked men to win back freedom for every man, woman, or child from the penalty of sin – eternal separation from God, through His death by crucifixion on the cross. Once faith in Christ is received, nothing (not even ourselves) will ever separate us from the love of God again, nothing (Rom 8:38-39).

We don’t have to wait until Good Friday every year to celebrate Christ's great sacrifice on the cross at Calvary. We do so every time we participate in the Lord's Supper. The Bible isn't specific in how often the Lord’s Supper is to be observed – “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup” (1 Cor 11:26). It is clear from Acts 20:7 that the early church gathered together on Sunday to observe the Lord’s Supper. Every time we observe the Eucharist, we “proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” This is our declaration day.

Unlike Memorial Day, our Hero is not in a grave somewhere (Mk 16:6)! Remember that "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom 5:8). It was in that upper room that Jesus tenderly expressed to His apostles and to us who believe, "Do this in remembrance of Me." Literally, it means, "You keep on doing this in remembrance of Me" until death or rapture!

When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of Glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

              -- Isaac Watts (1674 – 1748) 
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