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REMEMBERING JESUS - A MEMORIAL DAY SERMON

by Dr. R. L. Hymers, Jr.

A sermon preached at the Baptist Tabernacle of Los Angeles
Memorial Day, May 26, 2003


"This do in remembrance of me" (I Corinthians 11:24).


Today is Memorial Day. Actually it is next Friday, but it is commemorated today for some reason. But Memorial Day is supposed to be a day when we remember what brave men and women have done to protect our nation in times of war.

Dennis McCarthy wrote an editorial for the Daily News, which appeared last Friday. McCarthy told about a man named Brian Rooney, a science teacher at Chatsworth High School, who has spent thousands of dollars of his own money, and hundreds of hours of time memorializing our war dead. Brian Rooney has catalogued 8,600 memorials so far in 50 states, remembering the men and women who died protecting America.

Mr. Rooney's mission began in the jungle of Vietnam 33 years ago with a promise he made to a dying soldier. Two simple words were whispered to the young Army medic Brian Rooney, as he leaned over the mortally wounded soldier, trying to read the name on his dog tags. "Remember me," the kid whispered into Rooney's ear as he died. Rooney promised that he would remember him.

That promise grew into an obsession. He now spends much of his time cataloguing memorials for the war dead, making sure they are cared for, and that they are remembered (Los Angeles Daily News, May 23, 2003, p. 3).

What Brian Rooney has done is commendable. From the Revolutionary War to the present, he remembers those who gave their lives defending freedom for the rest of us. "My mission is to bring humanity to every one of them," Rooney said.

Let us take a moment to do the same thing this evening. Let us stand silently and remember those who gave their lives to protect and defend our freedom.

(moment of silence)

You may be seated.

The person who gave the most to free mankind was Jesus Christ. He gave His life on the Cross so that men and women could be free from sin, and judgment, and Hell. The Bible says,

"God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him" (Romans 5:8-9).

This is the greatest sacrifice anyone ever made for mankind. The Son of God was arrested, beaten, mocked and thrashed. Tufts of His beard were pulled out by the roots. They spit directly into His face, and beat Him over the head with sticks of wood. And then they nailed His hands and feet to a Cross. As His life-Blood poured out through those wounds, He prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). He did all of that for you,

"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree…"
    (I Peter 2:24).

What does Christ ask of us in return? He simply says,

"This do in remembrance of me" (I Corinthians 11:24).

We are to remember His body, broken on the Cross, when we take the bread at the Lord's Supper,

"Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me" (I Corinthians 11:24).

We are to remember the Blood that He shed on the Cross when we take the cup at the Lord's Supper. He said,

"This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me" (I Corinthians 11:25).

Whenever we partake of the Lord's Supper it is Memorial Day for "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).

"This do in remembrance of me" (I Corinthians 11:24).

I am going to ask you three simple questions tonight. Will you promise to answer them honestly and truthfully? I hope that you will. It will do you good.

I. First, will you remember what Jesus did for you on the Cross?

Will you remember the Bloody sweat of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane? Will you remember His loneliness as all the Disciples forsook Him and ran away? Will you remember the pain and suffering He went through on the Cross? Will you remember that He did this so your sins could be paid for and washed away by His Blood?

I know you have heard all of these things before. But I am asking you to remember the agony and Blood of Christ deeply and thoughtfully tonight. Will you do that right now? Will you remember Christ and His love for you?

II. Second, will you admit to yourself that you are a sinner?

Will you think, right now, of your deep, inner sin and rejection of Him? Will you admit that your heart has been far from Him, even in the church services? Will you admit that you have not loved Jesus the way you should? In fact, will you admit that you really haven't thought much about Jesus, that you have only had a very superficial interest in Him, if that? Will you admit that your heart and mind are far from Him? Will you admit that He is not often in your thoughts - but evil thoughts of other kinds often flood through your mind? Will you admit that you have a corrupted, sinful heart and mind? Will you admit that Jesus has no reason to love you because of your "goodness" - because you don't have any real goodness within you? Will you think of the fact that He loves you even though you are an incorrigible sinner? Will you think about His amazing love for you?

"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:17).

III. Third, will you trust Jesus Christ tonight?

You have treated Christ badly, haven't you? You have rejected Him and loved yourself instead of loving Him - haven't you? Will you reverse all that to the best of your ability right now, tonight?

Will you do more than just remember Him? Will you come to Him, and trust Him, and be saved from your sin by Him? Jesus said,

"Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37).

In the last four weeks more than ten young people in our church have hopefully come to Christ. He did not reject any of them. Each one of these young men and women came to Jesus and trusted Him. Will you do the same thing tonight?

How joyful and happy we will feel in your hearts if you do! Remember Jesus. Remember your sins. Come to Jesus and trust Him. Will you do that, in simple faith, right now? May God the Father help you come to Jesus and trust Him. God will help you do what you couldn't do by yourself - if you are willing. Are you willing for God to bring you to Jesus so your sins can be washed away by His Blood? Will you come to Jesus with God's help?

We are going to sing that little chorus,

Why not now? Why not now?
Why not come to Jesus now?
Why not now? Why not now?
Why not come to Jesus now?

While we sing that little song, get out of your chair and come and stand here in front of this pulpit. When you have all come, we will spend some time with you and help you. 

(END OF SERMON)

Scripture Read Before the Sermon: I Corinthians 11:23-26.
Solo Sung Before the Sermon by Mr. Benjamin Kincaid Griffith: 

"Jesus is the Friend of Sinners"

THE OUTLINE OF

REMEMBERING JESUS - A MEMORIAL DAY SERMON

by Dr. R. L. Hymers, Jr.


"This do in remembrance of me" (I Corinthians 11:24).

(Romans 5:8-9; Luke 23:34; I Peter 2:24)

I.   Will you remember what Jesus did for you on the Cross?
I Corinthians 11:24.

II.  Will you admit to yourself that you are a sinner? John 3:17.

III. Will you trust Jesus Christ tonight? John 6:37.

You can read Dr. Hymers' sermons each week on the Internet
at www.realconversion.com. Click on "Sermon Manuscripts."