Our natural life here on earth ends in our funeral. As the Scripture declares: What man can live and not see death? None.
But the Good News of Jesus Christ proclaims that the final chapter in the story of our lives is not death but resurrection. This is true of us because our Trailblazer, Jesus, has gone before us and defeated death. In Acts 2:24 we read these words regarding Jesus: “But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” In John 11:25 Jesus declares: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies.” No wonder they call this “Good News” or “Gospel”.
On the basis of this “Gospel” we shouldn’t be surprised that the Judeo-Christian Bible does not end with a funeral but with the joyous occasion of a wedding. I should say not a wedding but The Wedding which all other weddings are a faint portent. This Wedding is the ultimate consummation of the union between Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom, and His Bride, the Church. The Church is made up of all true believers and followers of the crucified and risen Christ. Revelation 19:9 calls it the wedding supper of the Lamb.
It is because Jesus was slain as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world that He has made possible our forgiveness with God and justification by Him on that last and glorious day. A day when we will see our Bridegroom Jesus face-to face (1John 3:1-3) and when God will wipe every tear from our eyes. And there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will have passed away (Revelation 21:1-4).
In the end, life and love triumph over death and hate. This is so because in the Good News of Jesus, God in Christ has triumphed over Satan, human evil and death. This Gospel birthed the Church 2000 years ago and will sustain it until Christ comes back a second time. Let us keep trusting the Good Shepherd Jesus because He died for us and was raised for our justification. He cares for His sheep and He always intercedes for us at the right-hand of God. This is the Good News of Jesus! Amen. Pastor John
Congratulations on reading the Bible in 90 days! I hope it was as fruitful for you as it was for me.
If you haven’t read through the Bible in 90 days you can follow along by clicking here to begin on day one and follow my running commentary: Day 1: Genesis 1:1-16:16.