What Mean These Stones?

What Mean These Stones? By Mark Mayberry 10/16/2011 Introduction The word memorial, derived from the Latin memorialis, which means belonging to memory, refers to something that keeps remembrance alive. On a civic level, a memorial may be a monument or a holiday that honors the memory of some person(s) or an event. On a personal level, it may be a wedding ring, a keepsake, or souvenir. The National Mall in Washington, D.C., contains the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Washington Monument. The Thomas Jefferson Memorial overlooks the Tidal Basin. A statue of Ulysses S. Grant guards the front of the U.S. Capitol. The Capitol itself contains many statues honoring the memory of prominent Americans. Memorial Day, observed annually the last Monday in May in most of the United States, honors the memory of those service men and women who have fallen in war. Memorials are important in our personal lives, our collective existence as a nation, and also in the spiritual realm. What are some sacred memorials contained in Scripture? Memorials to God The Rainbow in the Clouds A rainbow is an arc of color appearing in the sky when sunlight, passing through drops of rain or mist in the atmosphere, refracts and is dispersed. Following the flood, God decreed that the rainbow would serve as a memorial of His covenant with Noah wherein the Lord promised that He would never again destroy the world by a flood (Gen. 9:12-17). The rainbow is a continual testimony of God s mercy and grace. This symbolism is repeated in the apocalyptic books of Ezekiel and Revelation where God s throne is surrounded by radiance (Ezek. 1:22-28, esp. vs. 28; Rev. 4:1-4, esp. vs. 3). Although believers face trials and tribulations, God is firmly in control and will see His people through the storms of life. Genesis 9:12-17 (NASB95) 12 God said, This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations; 13 I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. 14 It shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud, 15 and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living 1

creature of all flesh that is on the earth. 17 And God said to Noah, This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth. Ezekiel 1:22-28 (NASB95) 22 Now over the heads of the living beings there was something like an expanse, like the awesome gleam of crystal, spread out over their heads. 23 Under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward the other; each one also had two wings covering its body on the one side and on the other. 24 I also heard the sound of their wings like the sound of abundant waters as they went, like the voice of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army camp; whenever they stood still, they dropped their wings. 25 And there came a voice from above the expanse that was over their heads; whenever they stood still, they dropped their wings. 26 Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man. 27 Then I noticed from the appearance of His loins and upward something like glowing metal that looked like fire all around within it, and from the appearance of His loins and downward I saw something like fire; and there was a radiance around Him. 28 As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking. Revelation 4:1-4 (NASB95) 1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things. 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. 3 And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. The Passover & Feast of Unleaven Bread The Passover is a memorial of God s sparing the firstborn of Israel in Egypt and of their deliverance from Egyptian bondage (Exod. 12:14, 21-28). The Feast of Unleaven Bread, celebrated over the seven days preceding the Passover, serves a similar purpose (Exod. 13:5-10). Both of these observances have ultimate realization in the person of Christ and His perfect sacrifice (1 Cor. 5:7-8; 1 Pet. 1:17-19). Exodus 12:14 (NASB95) 14 Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance. Exodus 12:21-28 (NASB95) 21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, Go and take for yourselves lambs according to your families, and slay the Passover lamb. 22 You shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and apply some of the blood that is in the basin to the lintel and the two 2

doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning. 23 For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you. 24 And you shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children forever. 25 When you enter the land which the Lord will give you, as He has promised, you shall observe this rite. 26 And when your children say to you, What does this rite mean to you? 27 you shall say, It is a Passover sacrifice to the Lord who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes. And the people bowed low and worshiped. 28 Then the sons of Israel went and did so; just as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. Exodus 13:5-10 (NASB95) 5 It shall be when the Lord brings you to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall observe this rite in this month. 6 For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the Lord. 7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and nothing leavened shall be seen among you, nor shall any leaven be seen among you in all your borders. 8 You shall tell your son on that day, saying, It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt. 9 And it shall serve as a sign to you on your hand, and as a reminder on your forehead, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth; for with a powerful hand the Lord brought you out of Egypt. 10 Therefore, you shall keep this ordinance at its appointed time from year to year. 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 (NASB95) 6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? 7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Peter 1:17-19 (NASB95) 17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. The Stones at Jordan, Gilgal & Shechem When Israel crossed the Jordan River and occupied the Promised Land, Joshua commanded that 12 stones, representing the 12 tribes of Israel, be set up in the midst of the Jordan. These stones, he said, shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever (Josh. 4:1-9). Joshua 4:1-9 (NASB95) 1 Now when all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from each tribe, 3 and command them, saying, Take up for yourselves twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests feet are standing firm, and carry them over with you and lay them down in the lodging place 3

where you will lodge tonight. 4 So Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the sons of Israel, one man from each tribe; 5 and Joshua said to them, Cross again to the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel. 6 Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, What do these stones mean to you? 7 then you shall say to them, Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever. 8 Thus the sons of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, just as the Lord spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel; and they carried them over with them to the lodging place and put them down there. 9 Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan at the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing, and they are there to this day. Gilgal was the first campsite of the people of Israel after they crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land. They took additional stones from the Jordan and set them up at Gilgal as a memorial of divine deliverance (Josh. 4:19-24). Joshua 4:19-24... 19 Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth of the first month and camped at Gilgal on the eastern edge of Jericho. 20 Those twelve stones which they had taken from the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. 21 He said to the sons of Israel, When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What are these stones? 22 then you shall inform your children, saying, Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground. 23 For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the LORD your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed; 24 that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, so that you may fear the LORD your God forever. (NASB95) Near the end of his life, Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, where he reviewed Israel s history, reminded them of God s goodness, and challenged them to faithfully serve the Lord. After making a covenant with the people, Joshua took a large stone, set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of the Lord, and said, Behold, this stone shall be for a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord which He spoke to us; thus it shall be for a witness against you, so that you do not deny your God (Josh. 24:1, 14-28, esp. vs. 26-27). Joshua 24:1 (NASB95) 1 Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel and for their heads and their judges and their officers; and they presented themselves before God. Joshua 24:14-28 (NASB95) 14 Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 16 The people answered and 4

said, Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; 17 for the Lord our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and who did these great signs in our sight and preserved us through all the way in which we went and among all the peoples through whose midst we passed. 18 The Lord drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites who lived in the land. We also will serve the Lord, for He is our God. 19 Then Joshua said to the people, You will not be able to serve the Lord, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgression or your sins. 20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you after He has done good to you. 21 The people said to Joshua, No, but we will serve the Lord. 22 Joshua said to the people, You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves the Lord, to serve Him. And they said, We are witnesses. 23 Now therefore, put away the foreign gods which are in your midst, and incline your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel. 24 The people said to Joshua, We will serve the Lord our God and we will obey His voice. 25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. 26 And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of the Lord. 27 Joshua said to all the people, Behold, this stone shall be for a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord which He spoke to us; thus it shall be for a witness against you, so that you do not deny your God. 28 Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to his inheritance. The Lord s Supper On the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus instituted the Lord s Supper (Matt. 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20). This memorial feast, observed collectively by believers on the first day of the week (Acts 2:42; 20:7), reminds disciples of the great sacrifice made on their behalf (1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:20-34). We look back to Christ s suffering on the cross, forward to the Lord s return, and inward in honest self-examination. Matthew 26:26-29 (NASB95) 26 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body. 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father s kingdom. Mark 14:22-25 (NASB95) 22 While they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, Take it; this is My body. 23 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God. Luke 22:14-20 (NASB95) 14 When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. 15 And He said to them, I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is 5

fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, Take this and share it among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes. 19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me. 20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. Acts 2:42 (NASB95) 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 20:7 (NASB95) 7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (NASB95) 16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread. 1 Corinthians 11:20-34 (NASB95) 20 Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord s Supper, 21 for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you. 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me. 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord s death until He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. 30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world. 33 So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment. The remaining matters I will arrange when I come. 6

Memorials to Man The Woman s Alabaster Flask When Jesus was in the house of Simon the leper, a woman anointed His head with oil. Wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, said Jesus, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her (Matt. 26:6-13, esp. vs. 13; see also Mark 14:9; ). Here we see a monument to reverence and worship. Matthew 26:6-13 (NASB95) 6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table. 8 But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, Why this waste? 9 For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor. 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. 11 For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. 12 For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. 13 Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory [a memorial, KJV] of her. Mark 14:9 (NASB95) 9 Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her. The Widow s Two Mites When Jesus visited the temple, he observed how the people put money into the treasury. In contrast with the rich who put in much, a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. The Greek word lepton refers to a small copper coin, whose value was 1/128 of a denarius [BDAG]. For the sake of illustration, if a common laborer makes $100/day, a lepton would be worth 78 cents. Yet, this woman, who cast in two mites, proportionately gave more than the rich who contributed from their abundance. Her contribution was a memorial to her faith (Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4). Mark 12:41-44 (NASB95) 41 And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. 43 Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on. Luke 21:1-4 (NASB95) 1 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins. 3 And He said, Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; 4 for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on. 7

The Prayers & Alms of Cornelius The prayers and alms of Cornelius stand as a monument to his faith and devotion (Acts 10:1-6, esp. vs. 4). Cornelius obedient attitude is also seen in his statement to Peter: So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord (Acts 10:30-33). He and his household were honored as the first Gentile converts (Acts 10:44-48). Acts 10:1-6 (NASB95) 1 Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, Cornelius! 4 And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; 6 he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea. Acts 10:4 (NASB95) 4 And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. Acts 10:30-33 (NASB95) 30 Cornelius said, Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments, 31 and he said, Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Therefore send to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea. 33 So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord. Acts 10:44-48 (NASB95) 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47 Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he? 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days. The Garments of Dorcas Dorcas, who is also called Tabitha, was a disciple known for befriending fellow Christians and helping those in need (Acts 9:36-42). When Peter came to Joppa, and entered the upper room where her body lay, all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them (Acts 9:36-42). Her good works and charitable deeds were a monument to the spirit of service. 8

Acts 9:36-42 (NASB95) 36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did. 37 And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, Do not delay in coming to us. 39 So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. 40 But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Conclusion What kind of memorial will commemorate your life? Do you want to be remembered? Such is a vain expectation on this earth for even the most noteworthy of men are soon forgotten; yet, the righteous will be remembered throughout all eternity (Psa. 103:15-18; 112:1-6). The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot (Prov. 10:7). Psalm 103:15-18 (NASB95) 15 As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 16 When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, And its place acknowledges it no longer. 17 But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children s children, 18 To those who keep His covenant And remember His precepts to do them. Psalm 112:1-6 (NASB95) 1 Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, Who greatly delights in His commandments. 2 His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, And his righteousness endures forever. 4 Light arises in the darkness for the upright; He is gracious and compassionate and righteous. 5 It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He will maintain his cause in judgment. 6 For he will never be shaken; The righteous will be remembered forever. Proverbs 10:7 (NASB95) 7 The memory of the righteous is blessed, But the name of the wicked will rot. 9