Remembrance and Glory
John 17:20-26/Revelation 22:12-21
Call Ps. 97:1-6/May 24,1998
Introduction: Memorial Day Poem by Dick Gayan
Transition thought: Holidays are tough for me. They are tough because they are Holidays, and not Holy Days. Should they be Holy days? I believe so. But, In a secular society who is only interested in pleasure, the Holi in Holiday is all but lost. Many will use this long weekend for a long over due vacation. There is nothing wrong with that, but the preacher is left in a dilemma as to how to preach the gospel and not be considered un-American or unpatriotic.
THESIS SENTENCE: Our two text, I believe, may speak to the Idea of Memorial Day.
I. Our Gospel lesson starts with this phrase, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray for those who will believe in me through their message, ...”
A. This is a call to future generations to remember the past. The price that was paid and the example that was set.
1. It is also a call to remember the message. This is appropriate not only for Memorial Day, but for the whole proclamation of the Gospel.
2. Memorial Day was established in 1868 as a day to honor the fallen soldiers of the just concluded Civil War. It has grown to become a solemn recognition of all of our nation’s war dead and the high price of our freedom. Is this not the Gospel Message.
3. Is this not a call to remember why we have what we have. We are a blessed people. We live in a free country. We are not oppressed or forced to conform to some tyrannical rule as other nations are or have been. We belong to a country for and of the people.
ILLUSTRATION: THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS;
Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us-- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth. ABRAHAM LINCOLN NOV. 19, 1863
B. This is the gospel message. This is the truth that must be borne out in our lives this call to commitment, this call to devotion.
1. This call from the dead, as it were, to forge ahead, to move on in dedication to work begun. This is the call of our nation.
2. This is the call of our God. We are still a Nation Under God. He is our driving force. We must not let these dead have died in vain. They have left us this message.
II. Jesus prayer for his disciples was not only for them, but for all of us who will believe in Him through their message.
A. This resonates with me as we are called to remember those who have died since his death, to proclaim His message, to proclaim His freedom, or the freedom we receive from sin and death because of the battle that He fought and won.
1. I dare say, for those who have died fighting for the freedom of our Country, against the tyranny of sin and oppression, have followed the example of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2. The very reason we call Him Savior, one who saves another from destruction or injury, was the example that the men and women of our nation followed, even to their deaths.
The Gospel text for today also speaks of glory. Jesus states, “I have given them the glory that you gave me.” I was overwhelmed by this phrase. For on this day of Remembrance, is also a day of glory. Glory that comes from sacrifice. Glory, which is a radiance, a shining brightness comes at great price. Jesus received glory from the Father for obedience, even death on a cross.
B. In like manner, Jesus spreads that glory to us as we obey him, even to the point of great sacrifice.
1. Our Forefathers were not afraid of great sacrifice. And because of their great sacrifice, GLORY comes to them. A shining radiance that calls out to us to remember the price paid for our Freedom. A Glory that shines before us today.
2. BUT, what has happened to us?? Have we lost the glory? Are we made of the same stock of those who have gone before us?? They weren’t afraid to lose even their lives for a greater good. That being freedom, freedom from oppression and the powers that be.
3. Today is no different. We are called to sacrifice. We are also called to freedom. We are called to remember that with great sacrifice comes great glory, a radiant shining that is for each of us.
III. And why did Jesus want us to have this glory?? And why do our Forefathers call out to us to remember???
A. Jesus said, “that they may be one as we are one.”
B. A people undivided. A people rallied together to fight for what is right. A people not afraid to sacrifice all we are for a greater good, the hope and welfare, even the salvation of those who will follow us in history.
1. Will they say of us, that we have hallowed the ground?
2. Will they look to our dedication and call themselves to be committed to the way??
IV. My final thought here is that Jesus desire was that the “World would know.”
A. Our forefathers had the same Idea.
1. That the world would know that we are a nation UNDER GOD!! 2. That we will not stand for evil, that we will stand for truth and righteousness. The enemy will not prevail, for we are willing to lay down our very lives. We will not go quietly into the night.
B. The example our ancestor set is the example our Lord calls us to follow this day.
1. This is his prayer that we would be in complete unity. Standing for one cause and that Cause is the Love of God shed abroad in our hearts, a knowledge that God sent the Son, and that God loved us and loves us still, even as He loved the Son.
2. A knowledge that the Son’s desire is to live within us to reveal the love of God in us.
THIS IS THE MESSAGE THAT WAS READ TO US FROM THE BOOK OF REVELATION THAT I WAS GOING TO PREACH ON.
I. REMEMBER, I AM COMING SOON!! (22:12)
II. REMEMBER, I WILL REWARD (22:12)
III. REMEMBER, ALL ARE WELCOME TO MY GLORY (22:14;17)
CONCLUSION: On this great holiday, We are called to remember. We are called to remember the great sacrifice that was made by our Fathers, Grandfathers, Great-Grand Fathers, and all our Forefathers, and Mothers, who died that we may have freedom. In Keeping with the occasion of the Day, I have called us to remember the greatest sacrifice for our Freedom. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross. I have also called us to remember the willingness of those who went before us to sacrifice themselves for a greater good, even our salvation. We too must be willing to live sacrificially. Willing to set the example of what is important, what is worth dying for. This is the call of God placed in our hearts. A willingness to sacrifice our own good for His Greatest Good, even our Salvation. I call each one of us to the example set before us. I call each of us to the glory that the Father has for us. A glory that comes from being in Him and Him alone. Don’t be a wimp!!!
