Lest we forget
Photo: The Landing at Anzac Cove, April 25 1915. ‘Landing at Anzac, April 25, 1915 by Charles Dixon’, www.nzhistory.net.nz, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage)
Luke 22:19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this Tomorrow – 25th April – across New Zealand and Australia, and in other parts of the world too, thousands of people will be attending memorial services. It’s ANZAC Day. ANZAC is the acronym for Australia and New Zealand Army Corps. Each year on Anzac Day, New Zealanders and Australians mark the anniversary of the Gallipoli landings of 25 April 1915. On that day, thousands of young men, far from their homes, stormed the beaches on the Gallipoli Peninsula in what is now Turkey. For eight long months, New Zealand troops, alongside those from Australia, Great Britain and Ireland, France, India, and Newfoundland battled harsh conditions and Ottoman forces desperately fighting to protect their homeland. Consider the following statistics: There were 120,000 British and 27,000 French casualties at Gallipoli. A total of 2700 New Zealanders died and 4700 were wounded. Australia suffered 26,000 casualties, including 8000 dead. In defending itself from invasion, Turkey lost 87,000 lives out of an estimated 250,000 casualties. (Source www.nzhistory.net.nz) This campaign was a complete military disaster and culminated in an Allied retreat in December, Anzac Day does not therefore commemorate a military triumph, it was a tragic waste of human life for all involved. Some of us may know of or have family members who have fought and died in a war. I’m reminded to be thankful for those who have died so that we might have freedom. Having something physical is key in remembering something important. There are occasions in the Bible when the people were commanded to do something which formed a reminder of something significant and very important. Aaron priest had stones woven into his priestly garments, “on his two shoulders as a memorial”. A reminder of the 12 sons of Israel as he ministered in the presence of God. (Huge significance and implications there! (See Exodus 28:12). Joshua commanded that 12 stones be placed as a “memorial to the children of Israel forever”. (See Joshua 4:3-7). So that coming generations would see these stones and remember the story of their forefather’s deliverance from the land of Egypt. Those of us who wear a wedding ring, should look at it and remember; the commitment made to us by the giver of that ring, and the commitment we made to our spouse who wears the ring we gave them. Those rings reminds us of something important and highly significant. A commitment made because of love. Every time we share Communion, we “remember” the death and resurrection of Jesus our Saviour. That moment of celebration, when we eat and drink of the emblems, reminds us again of all that was accomplished at the Cross. And it is good to be reminded. We remember again the love that generated the commitment and the ultimate sacrifice. ANZAC Day was no victory to celebrate. But nevertheless we remember and celebrate the sacrifice made for our freedom. The correlation in this thought is striking for us. Those brave soldiers sacrificed their lives, so that we can live in freedom. Jesus Christ, sacrificed His life, so that we can live forever in freedom from the power and consequences of sin. It was all because of love. God, so loved you and me, that He gave the very best He had. Let’s never forget that, and as a consequence remember, be thankful, and celebrate the freedom He won for us. Image: from Google Images.
Lest We Forget – the popular and well known phrase, about those brave soldiers who fought to defend our freedom at the cost of their lives. They gave all they had, so that we can enjoy freedom.
