Monday is Memorial Day in America.
It was originally called Decoration Day.
It is a day set aside to remember those who have died in
service of the United States.
Sometimes, people lose sight of that.
Each year news crews are sent to places like parks.
There they will interview people and ask the question,
"Why do we observe Memorial Day?"
Most will remember.
Inevitably, there will be a few responses that are way off
the mark.
Memorial Day is not just to provide us with a day off from
work.
It is not to provide us with time for barbecues and
recreation.
Although there is nothing wrong with these activities, we
should set aside at least some time to remember the fallen.
Sometimes we lose sight of that.
In a similar way, people sometimes lose sight of who Jesus is.
When asked who He is, we get a variety of answers.
Some will say He is a myth.
Some will say He was a good man who lived a long time ago.
Some will say He was a good teacher.
Some will say He was a man who had some good ideas.
While some of these responses contain some truth, plainly
speaking, Jesus is so much more.
The first chapter of the book of John sets the tone for
understanding who Jesus really is.
John 1:1-5 (NET) - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was fully God. The Word was with God in the beginning. All
things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that
has been created. In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. And
the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.
John 1:14 (NET) - Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among
us. We saw his glory - the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth,
who came from the Father.
John 1:29 (NET) - On the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and
said, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
John 1:34 (NET) - I have both seen and testified that this man is the
Chosen One of God.
John 1:41 (NET) - He first found his own brother Simon and told him,
"We have found the Messiah!" (which is translated Christ).
John 1:45 (NET) - Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have
found the one Moses wrote about in the law, and the prophets also wrote about -
Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
John 1:49 (NET) - Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son
of God; you are the king of Israel!"
This Memorial Day, take the time to remember those who have fallen
in defense of their country.
Also, take the time to truly appreciate who Jesus is.
After all, that is one of the freedoms for which the fallen
laid down their lives.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on
Friday, June 5, 2015.
I’ll be back here on Friday, June 12, 2015
