Pastor: Dong Hun Shin
05/28/2023 Remember (Acts 2:1-21)
During the Memorial Day holiday, there is a place filled with people. It's not
a cemetery; it's an airport and a highway.
Memorial Day is a day to commemorate and remember the soldiers who
gave their lives to defend freedom and peace not only in their own country
but also around the world. In particular, I would like to express my gratitude
to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives to defend freedom and democracy
in South Korea during the Korean War in 1950.
73 years ago, 1.95 million young people from 22 countries came to this far
and unfamiliar land and threw themselves into the front line for the South
Korean people they had never met before. 38,000 soldiers lost their lives.
It was a truly noble sacrifice and a heartbreaking tragedy. South Korea
stood up again with the mindset that their efforts to keep peace on this land
should not be in vain. Today, South Korea has gone from one of the world's
poorest countries to one of the world's 10th-largest economies. It has gone
from being an aid recipient to a donor country. All of this is the result of their
sacrifice, who gave their lives to protect peace and freedom in South
Korea.
There are three trees symbolizing peace on Wolmido Island in Incheon,
South Korea. These trees survived the bombing during the Incheon
Landing Operation in the Korean War. Their names are as follows: The tree
that remembers that day, the tree of healing, and the tree that stands up
again.
The reason we have Memorial Day is to remember the past. The past is not
a past that has nothing to do with us. Because of that past, we are what we
are today. We can live comfortably because there are people who have
given their lives. Remembrance is about keeping the past connected to us
now. It is passed on to our descendants. Remembrance of the past makes
us who we are. It shows clearly where we stand now. And that's not all.
Commemoration shows us where we should be heading.
For Christians, Memorial Day has another spiritual meaning. It is a time to
remember the victories and painful memories of the past and to overcome
the dark and painful reality of today.
Psalm 137:1-6 contains the words of the Israelites who lost their country,
reflecting on their past while by the river of Babylon and expressing their
emotions. “There we sat by the rivers of Babylon and wept when we
remembered Zion... My tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not
remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy."
For the Israelites in hardship, recalling the temple in Jerusalem and the
experiences they had there became an event that helped them overcome
their painful reality.
The day before Jesus was crucified, He shared a table of love with His
disciples, who had been with him for three years. Jesus knew that as the
disciples continued to proclaim the kingdom of God, there would face more
pain and difficulties than before. So, Jesus prepared the table for His
disciples to remember that day and gain strength when faced with these
difficulties and sufferings. This is the communion we participate in every
month.
There were a couple that the apostle Paul always remembered. In the last
chapter of Romans, when Paul recalled and wrote down the names of his
loved ones, the first people he mentioned were Priscilla and Aquila. This
couple wholeheartedly supported Paul's missionary work and were his
faithful fellow workers. They even risked their lives for Paul (Romans 16:4).
They played a significant role in helping Paul preach the gospel, and their
presence became unforgettable in his life. Paul maintained a grateful heart
until the end for those who worked alongside him in the Lord's ministry.
If you take a moment to close your eyes and think about it, you may recall
people to whom you are thankful. We remember those who give their best
wherever they are. Those who leave behind a beautiful legacy of the
gospel and their love remain in our memories. May we, like Paul,
remember and express gratitude for the names of our loved ones and the
unforgettable people we have encountered in our lives.
Today, we also celebrate Pentecost Sunday, remembering the day the Lord
sent the Holy Spirit to His disciples. All the disciples were filled with the
Holy Spirit, enabling them to speak in many languages they had never
studied before. They took to the streets and addressed a large crowd
comprising people from different parts of the world, who spoke various
languages. Despite the language barriers, everyone in the crowd
understood the disciples’ message, witnessing the presence and power of
the Holy Spirit.
What does this event reveal about God? Does God only speak Hebrew?
No. God covers all the languages spoken in the world. Did Jesus come to
save only one group of people? No. He came to save people from every
country and language. We are grateful that Jesus came to save us, and we
know of His love for us, our families, and our congregation. However, God’s
love is surpasses our own. Jesus came to save all people in the world. As
stated in John 3:16, Jesus proclaims, “For God so loved the world that He
gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
eternal life.”
Regardless of your race, nationality, or language, God communicates with
you. Christ offers salvation to all people; everyone is invited and included in
the faith. It doesn't matter who you are, what you are, where you are, or
when you are. That’s the good news of Pentecost.
Jesus had instructed His disciples to bear witness to Him among people
from all nations. Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit
comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”(Acts 1:8)
However, they were instructed to wait for the Holy Spirit first. Waiting is
sometimes part of God’s plan. The Lord has important work for us to
accomplish on His behalf, but we must do it through the power of the Holy
Spirit.
Let the power of the Holy Spirit manifest in your life. Let us express our
gratitude to the Lord for granting us the Holy Spirit, allowing us to proclaim
God's love and liberate not only ourselves but all nations.
