John 15:13
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Have you ever had the opportunity to visit Arlington National Cemetery, in Washington, D.C.? Part of the hallowed grounds there is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier—a solemn memorial and a symbolic grave for all those who died in war and were not found or identified. It currently holds the remains of three unknown soldiers from World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. I’ve had three opportunities to visit the cemetery, to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and to witness the powerful moment of the changing of the guard.
The guards of the Tomb, known as sentinels, march 21 steps down the mat, turn and face east for 21 seconds, then north for 21 seconds and then back down the mat for 21 steps—a reference to the military honor of the 21-gun salute. With little noise or fanfare, it is a moving ceremony to watch.
Since 1958, less than 750 individuals have served as tomb guards. Day and night, they maintain watch over the tomb regardless of weather conditions. To perform this sacred duty, sentinels endure 18 months of rigorous training to prepare for the physically and mentally demanding role. Their dedicated commitment serves as a way to remember, honoring all who have given their lives in service to our country. It reflects our nation’s commitment to remember and honor its fallen heroes.
As Christians, we are called to a similar discipline in our faith—remembering the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and living lives that honor His gift of salvation. Just as the sentinel stands guard, we are to stand firm in our faith and “zakar” the Gospel of Jesus.
As we talked about on Sunday, the word Zakar is a 3-letter verb meaning to be mindful of, recount, call to mind, to remember. In the Old Testament, “to zakar” is not merely to search through the files and memories in your head until you find that random fact for which you have been searching. “To zakar,” is to use your hands, feet, and mouth to engage in, or talk about, whatever action that memory requires.
This Memorial Day, as we reflect on the sacrifices made by countless men and women in uniform, as we reflect on the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, it should stir us to live lives of purpose, gratitude, and service. We should always remember the price paid for our freedoms, especially the freedom from sin that we can only experience through our relationship with Jesus.
Prayer: God, thank you for the men and women of our military and their families. We pray especially for those families who have lost a loved one during their time in the service. Thank you for the sacrifice that Jesus made for us all on the cross. In His name we pray, Amen.