Mark 14:3-9 (New
International Version)
3 While he was in Bethany,
reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an
alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar
and poured the perfume on his head. 4 Some of those present were saying indignantly
to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more
than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her
harshly. 6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has
done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you
can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did
what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my
burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the
world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
* Memorial Day was
officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander
of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first
observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and
Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to
officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873.
* By 1890 it was recognized by all of the Northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I, when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war. It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May, passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971.
* In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem:
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
* Memorial Day not only recognizes a national sacrifice, but a spiritual sacrifice as well. In other words, we not only commemorate the blood that was shed to ensure our national freedom; but, we also commemorate the blood that was shed to ensure our spiritual freedom, as well, by the Lord Jesus Christ.
* Most of the Memorial Day observances in our nation will look to graves filled with the bodies of those soldiers who died in service to their country. However, as believers, our Memorial Day can also look to a vacant cross, and an empty grave to the greatest sacrifice ever given.
* By 1890 it was recognized by all of the Northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I, when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war. It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May, passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971.
* In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem:
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
* Memorial Day not only recognizes a national sacrifice, but a spiritual sacrifice as well. In other words, we not only commemorate the blood that was shed to ensure our national freedom; but, we also commemorate the blood that was shed to ensure our spiritual freedom, as well, by the Lord Jesus Christ.
* Most of the Memorial Day observances in our nation will look to graves filled with the bodies of those soldiers who died in service to their country. However, as believers, our Memorial Day can also look to a vacant cross, and an empty grave to the greatest sacrifice ever given.
Dear Lord we thank You
today for the sacrifice You made for each of us. We pray that we would always
remember and also take the opportunity to share that great story with all those
we come into contact with. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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