April 4th, 2022
Written by Geo Bowman
I closed my eyes, but I couldn’t remember. I forgot how he looked or what he sounded like. And so, I tried one more time. This time, I closed my eyes really tight, as if the strength I used to close my eyes would somehow help me remember. It has been 12 years since my grandfather passed away on a cold day in December. I was 17 when he went to be with the Lord, so God gifted me with many years of memories that I treasure dearly, or at least I thought I did, until I realized that I couldn’t remember him— his wrinkles, the gap in his teeth, or the sound of his voice. As tears fell down my cheeks, I texted my cousin to ask for a couple of pictures, so maybe all those memories would come back to life once again. “I remember,” I thought as I intently stared at one of his pictures. My heart rejoiced as I celebrated the precious gift of remembrance.
Remembrance is a gift that comes from above. Not only has God created us with the ability to remember, but he has also commanded us to remember who he is and what he has done. If you have ever read the Bible, from Genesis all the way to Revelation, you will see how remembrance is a key element of the faith we profess. Because our God is one who remembers, he asks us to do the same.
In the Bible, the word “remember” means so much more than just a resistance to forget. According to Chad Bird, “to zakar (this is to remember) is to employ your hands and feet and lips to engage in whatever action that remembrance requires.” In other words, remembrance always leads to action. Hannah’s story is one of the best depictions of what remembrance is. The barren woman, who was mocked by Peninah, is remembered by God Almighty and, because of that, is able to conceive Samuel (1 Sam. 1:19–20).
What a comforting truth to know that when God remembers us, everything changes. But, in the same way God remembers, He also commands us to remember. God, in His infinite wisdom, knows that when we remember who He is and what He has done for us, we are transformed and sanctified. At the same time, He also knows we are forgetful people. He knew we needed His provision to be able to remember, and so He provided —He provided his beloved son.
In 2 Timothy 2:8, Paul urges us to remember Jesus, “risen from the dead.”In order for us to remember Him in His glorious resurrection, we must remember Him as the lamb who was slain. Most of us would love to bury the despairing images of this lamb while bearing our sins and carrying our sorrows, while being pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5-7.) We would like to fast forward and get to the third day when Mary finds out the tomb is empty. The Savior has risen! But, remembering Jesus’s resurrection without first remembering why He died in the first place is not Biblical remembrance, but mere reminiscence.
Only Biblical remembrance can lead us to surrender our hearts to Jesus. When we remember Jesus, we experience truth. Remembering Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross should lead us to repentance and eternal gratitude. And then, we rejoice! We celebrate His resurrection. The body of Christ gathers to worship and praise the One who paid for our sin, so we could be reconciled through Him and in Him.
In this Easter season, I want to challenge you to remember Jesus; not only through the month of April, but eternally. My prayer is that you remember Him not just by closing your eyes and by bowing your head, but by surrendering completely, and allowing the Holy Spirit to help you remember, once again, when you forget.
I closed my eyes, but I couldn’t remember. I forgot how he looked or what he sounded like. And so, I tried one more time. This time, I closed my eyes really tight, as if the strength I used to close my eyes would somehow help me remember. It has been 12 years since my grandfather passed away on a cold day in December. I was 17 when he went to be with the Lord, so God gifted me with many years of memories that I treasure dearly, or at least I thought I did, until I realized that I couldn’t remember him— his wrinkles, the gap in his teeth, or the sound of his voice. As tears fell down my cheeks, I texted my cousin to ask for a couple of pictures, so maybe all those memories would come back to life once again. “I remember,” I thought as I intently stared at one of his pictures. My heart rejoiced as I celebrated the precious gift of remembrance.
Remembrance is a gift that comes from above. Not only has God created us with the ability to remember, but he has also commanded us to remember who he is and what he has done. If you have ever read the Bible, from Genesis all the way to Revelation, you will see how remembrance is a key element of the faith we profess. Because our God is one who remembers, he asks us to do the same.
In the Bible, the word “remember” means so much more than just a resistance to forget. According to Chad Bird, “to zakar (this is to remember) is to employ your hands and feet and lips to engage in whatever action that remembrance requires.” In other words, remembrance always leads to action. Hannah’s story is one of the best depictions of what remembrance is. The barren woman, who was mocked by Peninah, is remembered by God Almighty and, because of that, is able to conceive Samuel (1 Sam. 1:19–20).
What a comforting truth to know that when God remembers us, everything changes. But, in the same way God remembers, He also commands us to remember. God, in His infinite wisdom, knows that when we remember who He is and what He has done for us, we are transformed and sanctified. At the same time, He also knows we are forgetful people. He knew we needed His provision to be able to remember, and so He provided —He provided his beloved son.
In 2 Timothy 2:8, Paul urges us to remember Jesus, “risen from the dead.”In order for us to remember Him in His glorious resurrection, we must remember Him as the lamb who was slain. Most of us would love to bury the despairing images of this lamb while bearing our sins and carrying our sorrows, while being pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5-7.) We would like to fast forward and get to the third day when Mary finds out the tomb is empty. The Savior has risen! But, remembering Jesus’s resurrection without first remembering why He died in the first place is not Biblical remembrance, but mere reminiscence.
Only Biblical remembrance can lead us to surrender our hearts to Jesus. When we remember Jesus, we experience truth. Remembering Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross should lead us to repentance and eternal gratitude. And then, we rejoice! We celebrate His resurrection. The body of Christ gathers to worship and praise the One who paid for our sin, so we could be reconciled through Him and in Him.
In this Easter season, I want to challenge you to remember Jesus; not only through the month of April, but eternally. My prayer is that you remember Him not just by closing your eyes and by bowing your head, but by surrendering completely, and allowing the Holy Spirit to help you remember, once again, when you forget.
1 Comment
A wonderful and touching discourse. Thank you.