Remembrance Sunday

Last Thursday was Armistice Day, when we here in Britain remember the soldiers who lost their lives in WWI. Today was Remembrance Sunday when collectively we pay tribute to the soldiers of both world wars. They are solomn occassions. At work, as a history teacher, we raise the issue of whether it is right to remember; or whether, after 90 years, it is time to leave the past behind? For many these times of remembrance are important and the cost of our freedom should never be forgotten. Slogans such as 'Freedom is not free' reverberate as poignant soundbites that bear witness to the hugely tragic cost in human lives and of lost generations of young men.

It is right that we remember the 'Glorious Dead' as is written on the Cenotaph in London. But it is also right that we remember as a society the cost of our spiritual redemption as well. For 2000 years ago, one man from Nazareth, was crucified under Roman orders, just outside of Jerusalem. What made this execution different to the others was the fact that this man, called Jesus, died for the sake of humanity: a human sacrifice, echoing the symbolism of the sacrificial lamb slaughtered in the Temple courts by the Levitical Priests of ancient Israel. For Jesus offered up his life so that we could be forgiven our sins and tresspasses by God. For the Bible teaches that there are only two conditions in life: in slavery to sin or slavery to righteousness. Jesus bought our spiritual redemption and freedom by dying on the Cross. His ultimate sacrifice was the price of our freedom: freedom the Bible teaches us is what God has designed for us. Freedom from judgement; freedom from condemnation and freedom from guilt.

The cost of our political freedom was terribly great. Millions dead, but not in vain, for the fact that the Allied forces won the war and we continue to remember and pay our respect to their deaths. In remembering their lives and the price of our freedom it reminds me that life is still seen as sacred to our society. One life, the most sacred of all, was the cost of salvation. A life that was human, yet divine; a life that personified love. Yet rather than remember Jesus as another of the Glorious Dead, we also remember that He was raised again: resurrected and elevated to the right hand of the throne of God, reunited in glory with the Heavenly Father. This same Jesus that was crucified and resurrected is the same Jesus that is the same yesturday, today and forever. Jesus' sacrifice was a once for all, ultimate sacrifice. His sacrifice is as powerful to save lives as it has been for 2000 years. Believe.