ODJ: grave in springtime
April 24, 2011
But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died (v.20).
READ: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
It was the day between Good Friday and Easter. Winter had receded from the frozen landscape, so I ventured into the newly blossoming world. Hidden among the underbrush of our backyard, I discovered a small grave, complete with makeshift cross and crude headstone. On the gravesite, “H-O-L-L-Y” was spelled out in broken sticks and twigs. It was the name of my son Seth’s pet rabbit. My eyes misted over as I pondered the curse of death and how it pervades even the most innocent aspects of our lives.
Just then, I saw my son Kofi crouching next to a plant alive with fresh yellow blooms. I walked over to him. “What’s this?” he asked. “It’s a forsythia,” I explained. “Your mom planted it here 3 years ago when we lost our baby.”
Suddenly, I had trouble speaking. Kofi looked pensive. “It was just about this time of year,” I continued, “and the forsythia were in bloom. The flowers remind us of Jesus’ resurrection and the promise of our own resurrection because of His death for us.” Kofi smiled. He was only 7, but I believe he understood.
The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith. “If Christ has not been raised,” wrote the apostle Paul, “then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins” (1 Cor. 15:17). But that isn’t Paul’s conclusion. “In fact, Christ has been raised from the dead,” he declares (v.20). Then he makes this triumphant statement: “Thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ” (v.57).
In this life, we deal with death—the death of pets, the death of dreams, the death of our closest friends and family members. But in the sullen face of death, Jesus’ resurrection provides a hope that even a 7-year-old can understand. Death is not the final word. —Tim Gustafson
How do you remember someone you love? How do you grieve in healthy ways? How has Jesus brought you genuine hope?
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