CHURCH

LUTHERAN

Our Savior's of Elderon

Type you               Memorial Day 16            INI      Luke 21:5-19

                It’s 3 a.m. on a cold winter day. Patches of snow cover the ground as loudspeakers blare telling everyone to get to their places. Surrounded by sandbags, concrete barriers and roughly 10,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, Bagram Air Base has flipped a switch and turned from a deployed sleeping city, to a sea of green and tan military waiting for further directions.

Some were wakened from sleep, others left their duties to attend more pressing concerns. All were focused on the events that were about to unfold. Down the 3-mile main road of this Afghanistan base, men and women stood shoulder to shoulder to pay their respects to fallen comrades.

Soon the lights of emergency vehicles could be seen making their way up the boulevard; escorts leading a flatbed trailer to a waiting C-17 cargo plan which was headed back to the United States.  On the trailer were 3 caskets draped in U.S. flags. As the trailer approached the lines of servicemen lining the streets each pays their respects by saluting the men and women who have paid the ultimate price.

Once the trailer reaches the plane the formation is dismissed. Thousands of men and women in the middle of a war zone, pay their respects the best way they know how. Similar ceremonies are played out in other parts of the world as well.  All to show love and respect for the sacrifices and dedicated service of our military service men and women on a daily basis.  Memorial Day is about remembering those fallen heroes, and honoring their sacrifices on our behalf.

Every conflict we’ve ever been involved in has had its share of causalities. Both sons and daughter have been lost, often due to the bravery they displayed in combat.

 Every once in a while, during those conflicts, something happens, a solder does something which is so out-of-the-ordinary that congress acknowledges that person’s efforts by awarding them the medal of honor. This award is given to those who have distinguished themselves by their brave actions at the risk of their own life. In other words, they acted above and beyond the call of duty.  

One such person was Douglas Albert Munro. The Medal of honor was awarded to Petty Officer Munro as a result of his actions on September 27th, 1942.  Munro was in charge of a group of 24 Higgins boats. They were in the process of evacuating a battalion of Marines who were trapped by Japanese forces at Point Cruz Guadalcanal. After making preliminary preparations to evacuate the 500 battle weary Marines, Munro, under constant fire by enemy machine guns, bravely led 5 of his small crafts to shore.

                As he landed on the beach he signaled others to follow, and then in order to draw the enemies fire to protect the heavily loaded boats, he valiantly placed his boat with its 2 small guns as a shield between the beachhead and the Japanese.

When the evacuation was almost complete Munro was killed by enemy fire. But his crew, 2 of whom were wounded, carried on until the last boat had cleared the beach. Because of his outstanding leadership, expert planning and devotion to duty, he and his brave comrades no doubt saved the lives of many Marines who would have otherwise perished. He gave his life for his country.

Another such example is the sacrifice made by Pat Tillman. Tillman was a professional football player with the Arizona Cardinals. He chose to leave that life of luxury behind and join the U.S. Army.  He eventually joined the special forces and ended up in battle in the Afghanistan countryside.  Tillman also paid the ultimate price.

There are many, many such stories, but the picture is clear.  Many men and women have put their lives in extreme danger for their comrades in arms, and in some cases, gave their lives, in order that others might live.

It seems that in every war, in every battle, almost without exception, there are such heroic actions, sometimes from individuals you’d least expect it from. I have no doubt that after each such heroic act, those recipients of such unselfish actions were inspired to fight with even greater determination than before.

In a small middle-eastern country nearly 2,000 years ago, there was another hero, one even greater that those we have mentioned. This hero also made the ultimate sacrifice but his sacrifice affected all people of all time. As we look at this hero we will see some similarities to the ones I’ve mention but also many significant differences.

His name was Jesus, the son of Joseph the carpenter. We know from the Bible that he was raised in Nazareth but it tells us very little about his early life. It tells us about his birth, the visit of the Magi, and then the time he stayed in the temple and his parents came looking for him.  Then the Bible jumps ahead to his adult life and ministry among his people, the Jews, and also the Gentiles.

Who would have expected heroic actions from this man? The prophet Isaiah tells us that there was nothing about him physically that would have hinted at the possibility of any heroics. At least, not like we picture heroes today. But like so many of our heroes today, Jesus too, gave of himself.

To begin with, Jesus put himself in harm’s way, he endured pain and suffering for the benefit of others. In Isaiah 53 we’re told; “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering ,yet we considered him punished by God,   stricken by him, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (4,5)

                And Jesus did this willingly. Isaiah continues; “7 He was oppressed and afflicted,   yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,  so he did not open his mouth.” (53:7) Twice in his Gospel Matthew tells us that in response to his suffering and pain Jesus said;  “Not my will, Father, but yours be done.”

                Just as in the case of Petty Officer Munro, Jesus willingly endure his pain and suffering on behalf of his people to the point of death. Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians; “And being found in appearance as  a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.” In Romans chapter 5:7  he says; “7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

                But that’s where the comparison falls short. The men and women of the military put their lives in danger for the sake of their fellow soldiers who are fighting against other human beings.  But the battle Christ waged was against something much more powerful and devastating than human beings. The ultimate victory was not to take some important hilltop or body of water or even a country. No, his ultimate victory was to secure souls, yours and mine, and the souls of all people; it was to destroy the power of the devil, sin and ultimately death.

                Christ was victorious and his sacrifice inspired those who witnessed or heard about it. In his 1st letter Peter encouraged his readers with lessons he learned from Jesus. In I Peter 3:15 we read; “15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”  Later in this letter Peter warns us saying; “8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings (5:8-9)”

                Perhaps the clearest example of how Christ’s life, death and resurrection inspired people is the fact that we’re gathered hear today to sing hymns, hear the Word of God, offer prayers to God and to encourage one another. 

                In spite of the wide variety of issues that cause problems, the fact remains America still has the best equipped and trained military in the history of the world. The weaponry we have, combined with  the technology to use it, makes us seem quite invincible, or so we feel, until another attack comes to our homeland.  We must be honest with ourselves and admit that  in a world of terrorist attacks, where people don’t think twice about giving their lives for their beliefs or cause, we’ll never be totally protected and safe.

                In  his word God tells us that;   “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.  These things are happening today and will continue in the future.

But the Psalmist has an answer for this gloom and doom; “I sought the Lord and he delivered me from all my fears.”   Paul also answers saying; “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.”   Then he says; “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his kingdom.”

The war we fight as Christians is a different type of battle. One that is way beyond physical combat.  In 2 Corinthians 10:2-4 Paul reminds us; “3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”

 And in his letter to the Ephesians Paul paints a very graphic picture when he describes the armor of God. “14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”  (6:14-17).  That armor combined with a life of regular prayer, will protect us from the temptations that come our way and preserve us for a life of eternal joy in heaven one day.

                The story is told about a soldier that enjoyed that confidence even as he found himself in the heat of battle.  During the Korean war, one man was badly hurt on the battlefield of Heartbreak Ridge. His buddies were in a foxhole about 50 yards away when the man was hit by sniper fire in an ambush.  s the shooting continued, the men tried to figure out how to rescue the wounded soldier. Since the sniper fire was so intense to try to crawl to the wounded man would mean almost certain death.

For a while, no one moved. The men in the foxhole could hear their wounded friend yelling for help.

One of the men in the foxhole kept looking at his watch.  He could not keep his eyes off of it.  The others noticed this and began to ask questions.  But the soldier kept looking at his watch and didn’t say a thing.

All of a sudden the man with the watch jumped out of the foxhole, and crawled over to his wounded buddy.  He grabbed him by the collar and very slowly made his way back to the foxhole, while all the while, sniper fire was whizzing around him.  Both made it back to the foxhole without any additional injury.

After the sniper fire had died down the soldier was asked why he waited so long to crawl out and get his wounded friend?  His response was; “My Mom said that every day at the exact same time she would be praying for me. And according to my watch I left the foxhole exactly when she started spraying.”

We may not always receive answers to our prayers in such dramatic fashion, and sometimes, even though our prayers may involve physical protection or even the sparing of life, they may seem to go unanswered.  But, we have God’s promise that the ultimate victory in this world, the one which guarantee’s eternity with him, is ours through our Lord Jesus Christ.

So as we observe Memorial day tomorrow, remember all who served and sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy today. At the same time, give thanks to God for Jesus Christ and his willingness to serve, his commitment to our spiritual freedom and salvation. And then, be confident in your daily battles knowing you have been equipped by God to be a faithful warrior to make a difference in the world around you. And remember, only Christ can grant freedom from sin, Satan and eternal death. Amen.