Yesterday, 11th November, was Remembrance/Veterans Day in Britain, America, and Canada, a day on which we remember the men and women who courageously fought and gave their lives to allow us the freedoms that we enjoy on a daily basis.

Remembrance/Veterans Day should also give us pause to remember the living, those brave soldiers who even now are fighting the forces of terror and oppression to ensure our continued freedoms.
Remembrance Day; one day out of the three hundred and sixty five days in any given year on which we as nations unite to remember and pray for our countries soldiers.

For the believer every day should be a remembrance day. Over 2,000 years ago Jesus came into this world, a world that He had created, and yet the world failed to recognize just who He was (John 1:10-11). As a result of the people’s ignorance and unbelief He was handed over to the oppressing Roman authorities. He was then beaten to within an inch of His life and nailed to a cross, a means of execution reserved only for the worst of criminals.

The saying goes, the truth hurts and in this case it was true, because Jesus’ only crime was speaking the truth, the truth no-one wanted to hear. So, instead of listening to Him any longer they killed Him. The good news is He didn’t stay dead for long; for by faith we believe the Scriptures when they tell us that He rose from the dead three days later, conquering sin, death, and hell, once and for all.

The people back then expected the Messiah, the Chosen One, the King of Kings, to raise up an army and conquer all opposing human powers. They expected Jesus to incite a rebellion unlike the world had ever seen and make war with the ungodly, unjust, and those who opposed God, and His people. And that is just what He did, except Jesus fought this war out of sight of the mortal eyes of man. For instead of fighting a temporary physical war of flesh and blood, He fought an invisible spiritual war in the heavenly realms. Jesus fought the “prince of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11) for the souls of all people, for you and for me, so we could know true freedom through Him.

Upon an old rugged cross He claimed the victory saying, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) and “he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split… Then the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” (Matt.27:50-54)

I loved the scene at the end of the movie The Passion of the Christ where Jesus takes His last breath and we watch as the events detailed above unfold before our eyes. One added event, and call it artistic licence if you will, saw satan kneeling and, looking heavenward, screaming in anguish at Jesus’ victory. This scene in and of itself was worth watching the movie for and isn’t too far removed from the truth (Phil.2:10-11).

As believers, let us continually remember the freedom Jesus offers to all people through His victory on the cross.

Christian St John M.Div, BChM, ACS
November, 2008

Picture: “Soldiers Graveyard” by Meijk van Nimwegen

---

Related Posts:

1. Let Us Remember Today, November 11th, is Remembrance Day... so let us remember! Read more... ...
2. Onward Christian Soldiers I remember speaking to a pastor a few years back who told me that we...
3. Watch Your Back One thing I've noticed during my time as a Christ-follower is that our old enemy,...
4. Remembering Good Friday The cross should always be at the center of the Christian faith; it is the...



---