Anzac Day – Remembrance
It’s the early 1900’s and conflict had broken out. The enemy had invaded and had unlawfully captured territory from those who were rightfully in control.
The forces for good have devised strategies to drive the usurper back from the captured territory and to liberate those who had come under the enemy’s control. That plan is now to be put into operation. Everyone knew it would be a difficult and dangerous task and that there would be a great cost involved. There would be a price to pay and many lives would be lost. The men going to war knew that.
Let me take you to a beach in Townsville to tell a story that directly relates to me. This is from another time of war – the Second World War. My mother is walking along the Strand at Townsville and she is approached by an American serviceman. Australian women were, with some justification, nervous when approached by American service personnel but she waited to see what he wanted. He told her that he and his unit had been assigned to duty in Papua New Guinea to fight against the Japanese. At the time the Japanese were continuing their relentless push south and appeared to be unstoppable. He told my mother about his two little boys back in the States and told her how much my brother and I reminded him of those two little boys. He told her that he felt sure that he would not be returning from the conflict and said that he wanted her to have a stamp album which he had intended to be for his boys but felt that he would never have the opportunity to give it to them. She took that album and I still have it today. It is the reason that I have always been interested in collecting stamps.
But let us go back to the First World War. As I said the plan to attack the enemy was in place, but now it was to be put into operation. Who would carry it out? It was to be the finest sons of the nation and in some instances its daughters as well. They were prepared to go and there are many stories of young boys falsifying their ages or memorising eye charts in order to be enlisted for the task. But they also knew that their leaders wanted them to carry out this task of liberation. And so they went.
Let’s go down to the wharf. A troopship is at the berth. All the gear is aboard and it is time for final farewells. Fathers and mothers, wives and partners, friends, in fact a whole host of people are there to see the troops off. There are mixed emotions. There are tears of sadness as loved ones contemplated the consequences of the battle which lay ahead, knowing that for some of them this was to be a final farewell. And yet there was a sense of pride and confidence in the ability of the troops to get the task done and to return victorious.
The final streamer is broken as the ship leaves the wharf and the troops are bound for enemy territory. They make the long journey to a far off country and are eventually at the battle zone. But a great transformation had taken place. These men, some of whom had worn the uniform of the outback or the business suit of the city are now all decked out in the uniform of soldiers for this is what they had become, soldiers. No longer, teachers, doctors, stockmen, station managers, labourers, farmers but soldiers, all now suitably equipped to fight the enemy in enemy territory.
They maintain contact with headquarters and continue to receive their instructions and to get guidance and support. They are obedient to the orders issued from HQ and their only desire is to put those commands into operation.
Hence it is not long before they are in the heat of battle and they soon discover how evil the enemy is. He will do anything to hang on to the territory he has illegally captured. Nothing will stop him from keeping what he has unlawfully gained. There is a propaganda war of insult and intimidation, the questioning of motives for allied involvement and a questioning of which side was really in the right. But then there was the battle itself and soon the soldiers found themselves right in the bottom of the dark, slimy, smelly, muddy depths of the battlefield trenches. This was a place characterised by death and dying, a place of deprivation and hardship. There was no ease or comfort here but only constant danger and discomfort and enemy harassment
There was no love or compassion from the oppressor, either, only hate and destruction, an incessant desire to hurt and injure. There was absolute carnage and great cost in terms of life apart from the great economic cost as well. Some of these brave sons were injured but many also paid the supreme sacrifice – they gave their lives.
But the soldiers pressed on because they knew that they were fighting for freedom. – that they were fighting to bring peace – that they were fighting for their friends.
The carnage was so great that in many instances those who died could not be identified and the sacrifice of war has been characterised by the graves of the unknown soldiers – these graves being marked by a simple white cross. A white cross also marks the graves of those dead who could be identified. Most who died were buried on the battlefield and today thousands of white crosses mark their graves. Their bodies remain buried beneath these crosses. When first buried symbols of their “soldiership” were added to these crosses – their helmet, their rifle, and their identification tag.
But ultimately the victory was won, the enemy was defeated and peace was restored. Oppressed countries were delivered and their people set free. The world could look forward to a time of peace. The battle which had engulfed the whole world, the World War, was over. The peace united all people, differences were overcome. Just as the Anzac spirit had united soldiers from Australia and New Zealand so now this same new spirit spread throughout the world and leaders introduced new agreements to maintain the victory and the peace and to include all people in a new brotherhood of nations – no barrier would be allowed to cloud the fact that they were all part of one group which came to be known as the United Nations.
Let’s now return to the wharf. There is now a completely different general mood. This time the troop ship is moving toward the wharf. There is an air of excitement and anticipation, an outpouring of love, there is the expectation of sharing after such a long absence. There is rejoicing in the victory and a pride in what has been achieved. There is honour and praise for both collective and individual achievement. This is soon to be recognised by the presentation of medals and other decorations and citations for a job well done, for bravery in adverse and hostile conditions.
But amidst all this joy there is a sense of sadness. The victory had come at great cost. Many were wounded and still bore the stark reminders of battle. Their journey into enemy territory would never be forgotten. Those marks would always be there to remind them and us of the great cost of victory.
But some fathers and mothers and friends remembered loved one who had died. They would never forget that their relative or friend had paid the ultimate sacrifice, that he or she had died so that they could be free and so that others could enjoy the benefits of that ultimate victory. and so we have Anzac Day and we say “Lest we forget”.
But I want to introduce you today to a different Warrior, One who is superior to all others.
Let us turn to Joshua 5 and read.
JOSHUA.
CHAPTER 5.
13. While Joshua was near Jericho, he suddenly saw a man standing in front of him, holding a sword. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you one of our soldiers, or an enemy?”
14. “Neither,” the man answered. “I am here as the commander of the LORD’s army.” Joshua threw himself on the ground in worship and said, “I am your servant, sir. What do you want me to do?”
15. And the commander of the LORD’s army told him, “Take your sandals off; you are standing on holy ground.” And Joshua did as he was told.
DANIEL.
CHAPTER 10.
18. The angel touched me a second time and said, “Don’t be frightened! God thinks highly of you, and he intends this for your good, so be brave and strong.” At this, I regained my strength and replied, “Please speak! You have already made me feel much better.”
20. Then the angel said: Now do you understand why I have come? Soon I must leave to fight against the guardian angel of Persia. Then after I have defeated him, the guardian angel of Greece will attack me.
This warrior wasn’t an unknown soldier, we know Who He is. His life is well recorded in history. We know Who His Father is and we know the details of His battle. His experiences though similar, are so far superior to that of the Unknown Soldier or any other soldier that there is really only a superficial comparison.
Back in the beginning of time there was peace on earth, man was at peace with God and Adam and Eve were at peace with each other. But a usurper enters and takes territory which he has no claim to. Man loses his freedom and comes under the bondage of this usurper, Satan. Fellowship with God is broken. A spiritual battle has begun. Man is at war with God and men are in dispute with each other.
ROMANS.
CHAPTER 8.
7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8, So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
But God had already devised a plan to liberate those who were now under the enemy’s control. This plan was devised to bring back freedom to those who had lost it and to restore control to where it rightfully belonged, that is, to God. Then came the time when it was right to put this plan into operation.
GALATIANS.
CHAPTER 4.
4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Let us imagine we are in heaven, in God’s home, the place where God dwells. There was a plan, but who would carry it out? Jesus volunteered Himself for the task. In fact He was the only One suitable for the task. The job to be carried out was so horrendous that it needed to be someone special, someone over whom the enemy had no power.
JOHN.
CHAPTER 3.
16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Here was heaven’s finest, God’s only Son and He was suited and He was willing, because He knew it was what the Father wanted. Did you note that the battle was to be a spiritual world war.
HEBREWS.
CHAPTER 10.
9. Then Christ says, “I have come to do what you want.” He did away with sacrifices in order to establish the obedience that God wants
He knew of the Father’s plan and He knew it was the only way to victory. But He also realised the cost. However unlike that American soldier in Townsville He knew that He would return from the battle because that is what the Father had promised.
ACTS.
CHAPTER 2.
27. because you will not abandon me in the world of the dead; you will not allow your faithful servant to rot in the grave.
31. David saw what God was going to do in the future, and so he spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah when he said, ‘He was not abandoned in the world of the dead; his body did not rot in the grave.’
There are no wharves in heaven, as far as I know, but let us imagine some departure point. Again everything is prepared and in place. It is the time of departure. The Father is there to farewell the Son. There is a great host of others as well. We can only begin to image the sadness of the Father. He had had such close and unbroken fellowship with the Son. The love between them was beyond our ability to comprehend. And now He was saying goodbye. In a coming day we are told that God will wipe away all tears from our eyes but I wonder if He wiped away a few from His own eyes on that momentous day.
And yet there was a great degree of joy as God the Father considered the willingness of the Son to carry out His great plan and as He considered what was in store for those who had been captured and were continuing to be captured by the evil enemy. It would bring them freedom and a new life, an abundant life. He knew that the Son would eventually carry out the plan and that ultimate victory would be achieved.
But Jesus too had to be fitted for the task. Just as ordinary men had to become soldiers, so in the same way the Son of God had to become a man. He had to put on a uniform. A uniform is something that makes us the same, that’s what the word means – “one form”. He had to be made the same as man, He had to take on man’s form in order to fight the battle for mankind.
PHILIPPIANS.
CHAPTER 2.
7. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
And he had to enter the enemy’s territory. He had to go to a far off country. He had to come to earth where the battle for the soul’s of men was taking place.
JOHN.
CHAPTER 1.
14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Right from the outset he was subject to opposition and danger. Satan was scheming to have Him killed or to have Him defy or ignore orders. An evil king was used to try to kill Him and many babies died as a result. Later the propaganda started and His Father’s orders were brought into question and He was tempted to deviate from them.
MATTHEW.
CHAPTER 4.
1. Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
He was ridiculed and challenged by fifth column elements of the day, the so-called religious leaders. The enemy captain, Satan, used them in particular to seek to have Him done away with.
MATTHEW.
CHAPTER 16.
1. The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
But He maintained contact with Headquarters and continued to receive instruction and encouragement and support. He followed instructions to the letter.
JOHN.
CHAPTER 9.
4. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
JOHN.
CHAPTER 8.
29. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
The Father had plans for an ultimate battle which He was planning to engage in at His choosing, in His own time and at His own place.
JOHN.
CHAPTER 7.
30. Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
MATTHEW.
CHAPTER 26.
45. Finally, Jesus returned to his disciples and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners.
In the meantime, Jesus remained in the dark, deep, smelly trenches of humanity, trenches contaminated by the rottenness of sin. Everywhere He was surrounded by depravity and suffering and the stench of evil. Death hung like a sword over the head of every man and the wounds of brokenness were everywhere – broken relationships, broken bodies, broken spirits, broken hearts. Suffering and disease were rampant. For man there was no escape. Love and compassion, right living and right actions seemed to be non-existent.
GALATIANS.
CHAPTER 1.
3. Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
4. Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
Only Jesus was there to fight for peace and justice and freedom.
But after all these initial skirmishes, it was now God’s time for the ultimate battle. As Jesus contemplated the awful cost that he would have to pay in this battle, he was heavy with grief. He knew that during this battle there could be no contact with Headquarters. He would have to receive His last instructions, His last commands, agree to carry them out, and to enter the battle alone, to take on the might of the enemy.
MARK.
CHAPTER 15.
34. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
There was a tremendous battle fought in darkness against the evil of darkness.
LUKE.
CHAPTER 22.
53. When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
It was both a physical as well as a spiritual battle, thought the spiritual battle was by far the worst. Jesus was fighting not merely for the physical well-being of man but for their souls as well. He was fighting to bring them freedom from the forces of evil for ever, and to allow them to enjoy a new life, an abundant, eternal life.
JOHN.
CHAPTER 3.
14. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice. He died. The enemy thought that his forces had won. And sure for a time he had won the physical battle. Jesus was dead and not a white cross, but a rough wooden cross, now empty, was there to attest to this fact. His identification was still visible, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” He was buried on the battlefield in a tomb in the rocks of the country He had visited in order to rescue its inhabitants.
But, wait, the battle is not yet over. This was all part of God’s plan, a very necessary part of God’s plan for the ultimate, eternal salvation of oppressed mankind.
On the third day Jesus conquers death and with this victory he also conquers the evil forces who were its masters. He arises victorious and the ultimate victory is His. Satan and his forces are forever defeated.
1 CORINTHIANS.
CHAPTER 15.
54. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56. The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
God has now introduced a new world-wide agreement that guarantees peace for those willing to embrace it. All nations and peoples are invited to participate in this agreement. It would usher in a new Kingdom of righteousness, where love and justice and grace and mercy and forgiveness would be the characteristics of the Kingdom and of its people. There would be a restoration from brokenness, a new unity with God and with each other, a oneness in the body of Christ and in the family of God, no barriers to bring discord or disharmony, a oneness in purpose and action. Perfect freedom and perfect harmony will be the ultimate future result of this Kingdom.
HEBREWS.
CHAPTER 7.
22. By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
EPHESIANS.
CHAPTER 2.
14. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16. And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17. And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
But let us now return again as we did in our reference to the Anzacs to the point of departure, which is not now the point of departure but the point of arrival. Let us return to God’s home in heaven. Jesus is coming home. He is coming as the conquering hero, the victor who has won a great victory. What a celebration, what a rejoicing, what a reunion with the Father, Who had so missed that wonderful fellowship He and the Son had always enjoyed. What victory parades as the hosts of heaven celebrate as well. What honour and praise for the Son. I can’t image how many time the phrase “Well done!” would have been uttered. The Son is accorded the ultimate honour of heaven.
HEBREWS.
CHAPTER 12.
2. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
HEBREWS.
CHAPTER 2.
9. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
There are heavenly decorations and awards with Jesus declared to be a Prince and a Saviour forever, acknowledged as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
But there is also a sense of sadness and yet again of rejoicing as the marks of Calvary are so clearly seen and heaven itself recognises the great cost of victory.
ZECHARIAH.
CHAPTER 13.
6. And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
REVELATION.
CHAPTER 5.
6. And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
But how easily those who benefit from the victory forget, so before He returns to heaven in fact right before the final battle Jesus introduces a way, a time of remembrance. It was His “Lest we forget!” to those He came to save. It is this feast we partake of teach Sunday morning.
Just as the white crosses and Anzac Day remind us of those who fought the world’s battles so we have both the Cross and this day of Remembrance, At this feast we remember the great cost of our salvation, of our being made free from the oppressive, usurping enemy.
I look at the Anzac services and I see a mixture of emotions – sadness as we remember the sacrifices that have been made – yet joy and gladness as those who have experienced the peace also contemplate that freedom means that they will not have to endure the conflict, or experience the suffering. But I also see participation as “the free” publicly express their gratitude for the ones who fought the battle. May we also both publicly and silently express our gratitude during our time of remembrance each week. Let us honour Him with our remembrances and our worship during these times together.