On Good Friday, many people go to church and experience the somber theme of death. When Jesus died on the cross, he conquered sin. But when he rose again from the dead, he defeated death.
Death is not a subject we usually want to discuss. I usually don’t like having to prepare for Good Friday services because it’s all so sad. I want to have it over quickly so I can move on to the joy of Easter worship.
But when you think about it, Easter is about death. It is the death of death, because Jesus came to conquer death.
Again, the idea of dying is hard for us to talk about. Many don’t even want to use the word death. They use words such as passed away and deceased.
In hospitals they use the word expired. Sometimes you still hear the expression “the dearly departed.”
Those uneasy with the word death will often resort to humor and use terms such as “kick the bucket,” “bite the dust,” “croak” or “pushing up daisies.” It’s just a hard subject for us to grapple with.
Our church offers a wonderful ministry to the community called “Griefshare” for those who have lost a loved one in the past year or two, or longer. The vast majority of those who attend find it extremely helpful, but it is often difficult to get grieving people to come to the group.
When I’ve asked some people why they won’t attend, they usually say, “I’m afraid it will be too depressing to talk about death.”
Easter is a day that marks the death of death. Death died when Christ rose from the grave. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and
believes in me shall never die” (John 11:25-26).
Now maybe you’re thinking, “Wait a minute! I hear about people dying all the time. Don’t you read the newspapers and watch the TV news or visit the funeral homes? People still die. So how can you say death died?”
Yes, I understand that we die, and that our bodies go into a grave, or are burned up into powder and placed in an urn or scattered. But I am saying that death is not the end, as some people think. Our souls will live on forever.
In fact, the Bible says that one day our bodies will be resurrected. They won’t be the same, of course. They will be resurrection bodies — free of cancer, free of pain, free of mental illness and any other disease or defect.
Yet we will still be ourselves.
This is the hope of Easter. Death is not the end of the road; it is only a bend in the road. When Jesus died
and rose, he rendered death powerless.
If you are reading this column, you are likely someone who believes in Jesus and will receive his promises. If you don’t believe, remember that God loves you and so do I.
God is calling you to become a part of his family and have a relationship with him through Jesus. Perhaps this Easter
would be a good time for you to answer that call. Attending a church worship service is a great place to start!
Larry Gember is pastor of St. James Lutheran Church in Greenfield. This weekly column is written by local clergy members.
