This weekend, our nation will remember the members of our military services who lost their lives while defending their country.  Most people are probably not aware that soon after the American Civil War, freed slaves and members of the U. S. Colored Troops organized a ceremony to bury Union troops who died due to horrendous conditions of a prison created at a former racetrack.  They honored the dead by singing hymns and placing flowers on their graves, and engraved an archway over the cemetery with the words “Martyrs of the Race Course”.

        “Words from Above” in the Bible tell us that there is a historical event known as the Crucifixion that should always be remembered, especially by believers.  Those who have become believers realize that it was because of the sacrificial death of Jesus, the Son of God, that they have received the precious gift of God’s salvation and His gift of eternal life.  The crucifixion is an event that should never be forgotten, and it is one that should always be remembered. 

        Jesus Himself instituted a special observance called the Lord’s Supper to remember His coming death which occurred the very next day called Good Friday.  It was at the observance of the Passover meal when Jesus took bread, broke it, blessed it, and gave it to His disciples.  He then told them that the bread represented His body which was about to be broken for them, by which He meant for the forgiveness of their sins.  He then took a cup, blessed it, and gave it to the disciples, explaining that it represented His blood which He was about to shed for them.  He ended by saying that as often as they ate the bread and drank the cup, they would be remembering His death until the time He would return to the earth. 

        Beyond remembering the death of Jesus by participating together in the Lord’s Supper, another important way to remember His death is by the life that we live for Him.  By living our lives in obedience to His commands, by following His guidance and direction for daily living, and by demonstrating a good example to people around us, we are remembering His death until He comes.  By sharing our faith in Jesus with the people we meet from day to day, we are likewise remembering the death of Jesus in a really important way.  It is important to realize that this is the only way unbelievers will ever know about what Jesus has done for the world and for them.

Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  For informa-tion, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.