On this solemn Memorial Day, we pause not for celebration, but for a profound and heartfelt reflection — a moment to cradle in our hearts the immense gratitude we owe to those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

This day pierces the soul, calling us to honor the brave men and women who, with unwavering courage, laid down their lives in every conflict, from the battlefields of World War I to the struggles of today. Their stories, woven with selflessness and valor, stir within us a deep reverence, reminding us that the liberty we cherish was purchased with the blood of heroes who loved this nation more than life itself. And their sacrifices, raw and real, echo a divine truth that resonates through the ages.

In Philippians 2:7, we see Jesus, the King of glory, described as emptying Himself, taking the form of a servant, and humbling Himself even unto death. From this scripture emerges the profound Greek term “kenosis,” meaning “emptied.” It speaks to Christ’s self-emptying in His incarnation.

As Got Questions Ministries articulated, this does not mean Jesus relinquished His divine nature, but rather, “It is better to think of Christ’s ‘emptying’ of Himself as a laying aside of the privileges that were His in heaven. Rather than stay on His throne in heaven, Jesus ‘made himself nothing.’ … When He came to earth, ‘He gave up his divine privileges.’ He veiled His glory, and He chose to occupy the position of a slave.” This act of humility, this surrender of glory, is the heartbeat of divine love.

Scripture further unveils this truth in John 15:13, where Jesus declares, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” On the cross, we witness the pinnacle of kenosis — Christ’s selfless love poured out, His life emptied so that we might inherit eternal life and become heirs of heaven. There is no sacrifice more profound, no love more boundless. As Got Questions poignantly reminded us, “When it comes to the kenosis, we often focus too much on what Jesus gave up. The kenosis also deals with what Christ took on.”

Jesus embraced our humanity, bearing its frailties and sorrows. Philippians 2:7–8 proclaims, “Taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!” In this ultimate act of humility, the God of the universe became one of us, dying for His creation, His life laid bare for our redemption. Now, let’s tie it all together.

On Memorial Day, we hold this sacred lens of kenosis — self-emptying love — up to the sacrifices of our fallen soldiers. These brave souls, like Christ, gave up everything — not for personal glory, but for the freedom and safety of others. Their lives, poured out on battlefields far and near, reflect the divine principle of John 15:13, a love so fierce it surrenders all for the sake of others. To honor them is to recognize the staggering depth of their sacrifice, a love that mirrors the redemptive love of God. Their courage calls us to a higher gratitude, one that aches with the weight of their loss and the beauty of their selflessness.

These acts of valor also resonate with the biblical call to love our neighbors sacrificially, stirring within us a longing to live lives worthy of such costly gifts. As John Wesley Reid, a friend and former servicemember, powerfully shared, “One of the best ways to honor the fallen is to commit our lives to advancing the very freedom that cost them theirs. It might not be with a rifle, but it could be with our voices. It could be with our advocacy, with our votes.”

“To honor the fallen,” he continued, “let’s continue defending America against ideals that would deteriorate the very traditions that so many saw as valuable enough to die for” — just as Christ saw us, His beloved, as worthy of His life.

Each name etched on a memorial, each story whispered through generations, is a sacred testament to the cost of our freedom. These heroes — many with spouses, children, and dreams left behind — gave everything so we could live in a nation of liberty. Their sacrifice is a call to live with purpose, to honor them not only with words but with lives that reflect their courage and love. Let us support our veterans, teach our children the weight of their bravery, and, as the church, never forget that the root of all sacrifice, love, and honor is Christ — which is so beautifully exemplified through these fallen soldiers.

This Memorial Day, let us weep for their loss, rejoice in their legacy, and commit to living lives that honor the profound, self-emptying love they so courageously displayed.