Memorial

An object, institution or custom established or founded as a reminder of an important person or event held to be worth remembering in the life of the community.

Objects as a memorial

Stones

Joshua 4:4–7 See also Exodus 28:9–12 parallel Exodus 39:6–7; Exodus 28:29

So Joshua summoned the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of Israel, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ you are to tell them, ‘The waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters were cut off.’ Therefore these stones will be a memorial to the Israelites forever.”

Money or gold

Exodus 30:16 See also Numbers 31:54

Take the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting. It will serve as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD to make atonement for your lives.”

Incense

Leviticus 24:7 See also Isaiah 66:3

And you are to place pure frankincense near each row, so that it may serve as a memorial portion for the bread, a food offering to the LORD.

A crown

Zechariah 6:9–15

The word of the LORD also came to me, saying, “Take an offering from the exiles — from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon — and go that same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. Take silver and gold, make an ornate crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak. And you are to tell him that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Here is a man whose name is the Branch, and He will branch out from His place and build the temple of the LORD. Yes, He will build the temple of the LORD; He will be clothed in splendor and will sit on His throne and rule. And He will be a priest on His throne, and there will be peaceful counsel between the two.’ The crown will reside in the temple of the LORD as a memorial to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and the gracious son of Zephaniah. Even those far away will come and build the temple of the LORD, and you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.”

Offerings as a memorial

Leviticus 2:1–2 See also Leviticus 5:11–13; Numbers 10:10

“When anyone brings a grain offering to the LORD, his offering must consist of fine flour. He is to pour olive oil on it, put frankincense on it, and bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests. The priest shall take a handful of the flour and oil, together with all the frankincense, and burn this as a memorial portion on the altar, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Meals as a memorial

The Lord's Supper

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 See also Matthew 26:26–28 parallels Mark 14:22–24, Luke 22:17–20

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, 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.” In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread

Deuteronomy 16:1–8 parallels Exodus 12:14–20, Leviticus 23:4–8, Numbers 28:16–25