THE
Salvation JESUS’ RESURRECTION
DAY 38
ACHIEVED
THREE-WORD OBITUARY
TODAY’S READING: ROMA NS 8: 2 8- 3 9
B
efore Stig Kernell died, he told the local funeral home that he didn’t want a traditional obituary. Instead, the Swedish man instructed them to publish only three words noting his passing: “I am dead.” When Mr. Kernell died at the age of ninety-two, that’s exactly what appeared. The audacity and simplicity of his unusual death notice captured the attention of newspapers around the world. In a strange twist, the international curiosity about the man with the three-word obituary caused more attention to his death than he intended. When Jesus was crucified, the Lord’s obituary could have read, “He is dead.” But after three days, it would have been changed to front-page news saying, “He is risen!” Much of the New Testament is devoted to proclaiming and explaining the results of Christ’s resurrection.
CHRIST JESUS WHO DIED— MORE THAN THAT, WHO WAS RAISED TO LIFE—IS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. ROMANS 8:34 “Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? . . . We are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (ROMANS 8:34-37). The three-word obituary of Jesus, “He is dead”, has been transformed into an eternal anthem of praise to our Saviour. He is risen! He is risen indeed! o
DAVID MCCASLAND
How would you write Jesus’ obituary? What hope does His resurrection give you?
Lord, we rejoice in Your great victory over sin and death through Your resurrection. May we live in light of it every day.
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