The events of WWII were captured in thousands of photographs and hundreds of newsreels. But one image of the war stands out above all the others. It is a dramitic photograph showing six US Marines raising the American flag atop a rocky volcanic hilltop.
That hilltop was known as Mount Suribachi. For many people, Mount Surubachi isn't as familiar as Mount Everest or Mount Rushmore. But for historians of the war, like myself, it signifies the U.S. victory on Iwo Jima, which was one of the bloodiest battles in the entire War in the Pacific.
In the March 9, 1945 edition of the St. Louis Globe it said that, "A few minutes after the American Flag went up over the shell torn crest of Mount Suribachi, even though Japanese still lurked in caves on the battered hillside, Navy Lt. Paul Bradley of Brooklyn, NY, a Chaplain, said mass on the Summit.
So as we observe the Lord's Supper we are remembering what Jesus did for us on the cross. We can look to the flag and tell others what He did for us. How He gave His life so that we might live eternally with Him.
If you look at the colors of the flag, Red, White and Blue. The white stripes are, well white. They are pure white, uncorrupted by any dark stain. The bible says, "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." This sin leaves a deadly stain on our hearts that separates us from God. Only Jesus Christ, God's Son who became a man, has ever lived a pure, sinless life. And this perfect man is only one who can remove the stain from our hearts and make us pure in the sight of a holy God.
The Red stripes of the flag remind me of the result of sin. The Bible says, "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission," of sins. (Hebrews 9:22) Moral living and good works cannot wash away the stain of sin. God loves us so much that He sent His son to earth to accept our sin upon Himself and be punished for it in our place. In the second half of 1 John 1:7 it says, "and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." And in the book of Isaiah it says in chapter 53:5, "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds (stripes) we are healed."
Then if you look at the stars on the blue background. They remind me of heaven, a place of freedom, from sin, sickness, and death a place of eternal communion with God. The bible, in Daniel 12:3 promices that we will shine like stars forever.
So as we observe the Lord's Supper remember that just as the soldiers planted the flag on Mt. Suribachi in WW II, are we as Christians planting the cross in our daily lives at work, at school, in our homes, and in the community? As we observe the Lord's Supper we are not only remembering what Jesus did for us on the cross, but why He did it. He did it because he loves us.
Luke 22:19-20
19And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."
20In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
That hilltop was known as Mount Suribachi. For many people, Mount Surubachi isn't as familiar as Mount Everest or Mount Rushmore. But for historians of the war, like myself, it signifies the U.S. victory on Iwo Jima, which was one of the bloodiest battles in the entire War in the Pacific.
In the March 9, 1945 edition of the St. Louis Globe it said that, "A few minutes after the American Flag went up over the shell torn crest of Mount Suribachi, even though Japanese still lurked in caves on the battered hillside, Navy Lt. Paul Bradley of Brooklyn, NY, a Chaplain, said mass on the Summit.
So as we observe the Lord's Supper we are remembering what Jesus did for us on the cross. We can look to the flag and tell others what He did for us. How He gave His life so that we might live eternally with Him.
If you look at the colors of the flag, Red, White and Blue. The white stripes are, well white. They are pure white, uncorrupted by any dark stain. The bible says, "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." This sin leaves a deadly stain on our hearts that separates us from God. Only Jesus Christ, God's Son who became a man, has ever lived a pure, sinless life. And this perfect man is only one who can remove the stain from our hearts and make us pure in the sight of a holy God.
The Red stripes of the flag remind me of the result of sin. The Bible says, "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission," of sins. (Hebrews 9:22) Moral living and good works cannot wash away the stain of sin. God loves us so much that He sent His son to earth to accept our sin upon Himself and be punished for it in our place. In the second half of 1 John 1:7 it says, "and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." And in the book of Isaiah it says in chapter 53:5, "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds (stripes) we are healed."
Then if you look at the stars on the blue background. They remind me of heaven, a place of freedom, from sin, sickness, and death a place of eternal communion with God. The bible, in Daniel 12:3 promices that we will shine like stars forever.
So as we observe the Lord's Supper remember that just as the soldiers planted the flag on Mt. Suribachi in WW II, are we as Christians planting the cross in our daily lives at work, at school, in our homes, and in the community? As we observe the Lord's Supper we are not only remembering what Jesus did for us on the cross, but why He did it. He did it because he loves us.
Luke 22:19-20
19And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."
20In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
No comments:
Post a Comment