Day 7 of 12 Reasons to Rejoice: Advent Devotions
The saddest thing I’ve ever seen was a funeral without hope.
Typically labeled a “Celebration of Life,” this type of funeral merely reflects on the deceased’s earthly life and accomplishments. Perhaps it alludes to his buoyant attitude, or her kindness to animals.
But there’s nothing to celebrate because no matter how great and amazing their life was, it’s over now.
That’s how it would be for all of us, had this not happened:
They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. [Jesus] said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
Luke 12:37-39
This conversation between Jesus and his disciples happened after they watched him be cruelly tortured and nailed to the cross for all the world to see. After the guards shoved a spear into his heart to make his death sure. Make no mistake, he really died.
But make no mistake, Jesus defeated death because he truly came back to life.
It was not enough for Jesus to simply die. He needed to conquer death, to kill death, the product of sin. If he had not been resurrected, there would be no Easter, no glory, no hope for eternal life for any of us. But, as 1 Corinthians 15:54 says, because Jesus rose from the grave, “death has been swallowed up in victory!”
Rejoice because Jesus defeated death when he rose from the grave!
For Further Reading
The full passage from which the above verses were selected can be found in Luke 24. Check out the entire chapter! See also 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 and the following posts:
You don’t have to have all the answers.
but, hey, why not?
Bring me your questions about faith, life, God, the Bible… and I’ll help you find the answers.