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The stated purpose of the Dr. Martin Luther King monument in our capital is this: It “captures the essence of his message, a message in which he so eloquently affirms the commanding tenants of the American Dream—Freedom, Democracy, and Opportunity for All.” Memorials remind us of people and events that have left a lasting impact. They help shape how we think and act today. It’s why God told ancient Israel to create a memorial—one to remind them of how God opened up the Jordan River so they could pass over into the Promised Land. In Joshua chapter 4 we read: “When all the people had crossed the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua. Now choose 12 men, one from each tribe. Tell them, ‘Take 12 stones from the very place where the priests are standing in the middle of the Jordan. Carry them out and pile them up at the place where you will camp tonight.’” … In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them. ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’” Today, Jesus Christ bares the marks of His crucifixion. His marks memorialize forever the price He paid to cancel our sin debt. By dying and rising again, He earned the right to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
