More Important Than Death

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed on the last Monday of May, commemorating U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service.

With all due respect to deceased veterans (including persons like my dad), it is infinitely more important to “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead" (2 Timothy 2:8).

It is important, value-sifting, paradigm-fixing, and perspective-refining to remember that we all have an appointment with death. More important than remembering the dead is keeping in mind that there is much to come after death, as Jesus demonstrates in his resurrection.

At the Lord’s Table we memorialize Jesus death: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). And we preach Christ crucified (until dead). We remember his dying.

However, we don’t merely remember him crucified, but risen.