In the sure and certain hope of the resurrection

Rev. Robert Mohns

Bright white light, made brighter still by the freshly fallen snow, envelopes the landscape and greets the little band of followers. The pastor is out front leading, then the casket, then family and friends trailing behind. It was a bitter cold day, with snow blowing down from the trees and falling on the group, adding insult to injury.

As they make their way, the words of an ancient hymn are spoken, “In the midst of life we are in death; from whom can we seek help? From you alone, O Lord, who by our sins are justly angered. Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the bitterness of eternal death.”

Death: the last and greatest of our foes. Let us never attempt to diminish this foe. It’s a fool’s errand to try. I am writing this article during the COVID-19 epidemic, which has now been classified as a pandemic. People everywhere are buying supplies (someone has made the comment that 2020 will be the year of the great toilet paper famine). I have heard people explain that it is a natural reaction to managing things that are beyond our control. At least we can manage toilet paper! The awareness of our mortality has been heightened. Great lengths are being taken to stop, or at least slow down, the spread of illness, and the possible deaths that may come from it.

For all the window dressing, beautiful words, and hope that death’s trauma may come to an end by embracing it as our friend, it still remains the enemy. Those left behind endure the trauma and the loss of a loved one. Death continues its work among the living. As great an enemy death is, it is not the end. Far greater still is eternal death.

The little congregation comes to a stop. In contrast to the beautiful white snow and brightness of the day, the contrast of the blue sky and white ground, the group is stopped by a brown-black rectangular hole in the ground, awkwardly surrounded by artificial green grass. However much the hole is dressed up, it is still a hole, dark blackbrown, earth. The casket is lowered into it. “Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust...”

Is this it? Is this all there is? A body returned to the earth, to be tilled, and worked, planted, and sowed? No! Far worse is the reality of eternal death, which is always and forever held in the pangs and anguish of death because of sin, my sin. It is often described as being trapped in a burning fire from which there is no escape. This is the reality that lies behind the soil walls of the grave. Sin entered into the world and into every human being by the trespass of the one man. And the penalty for sin is death.

“Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the bitterness of eternal death.” Yes, Satan, that old evil foe, would desire us to harden our hearts and turn away from our only hope and help. He would have the whole of humanity embrace and ever hold fast to death, all of it, physical and eternal, hook, line, and sinker and be caught up in all its bitterness.

But God is not slow in answering our humble plea for deliverance. “In the sure and certain hope of the resurrection through Jesus Christ our Lord, who will change our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body by the power that enables Him to subdue all things to Himself.”

Here is Easter and the outpouring of the completion of our Lord’s anointing to save lost sinners. In the very midst of death is life. The great exchange is made and Jesus suffers and dies so that sinners might be set free from death. The just punishment for their sins is paid in full by the perfect life, suffering, and death of Jesus. “Because I live you shall live also!”

A hand scoops up dirt and lays it on the casket, and soon more dirt is added and the casket is covered. The little congregation departs with tears of sorrow and grief covered with the waters of hope and life that flow from the spear-pierced side of Christ, in the hope of the resurrection through Christ our Lord. God grant to His people true repentance from sin and death to life in Christ!

Rev. Robert Mohns is Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)'s West Regional Pastor.