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The Grave is not the End

Image from Eyasu Etsub on Unsplash
As we celebrated Easter, I pondered what it meant to be with Jesus on the day He died. Jesus and His disciples gathered together that night in order to take the Passover meal, in accordance with scripture. This was a time set aside to remember the day God passed over Israel. God, desiring to rescue His people, was bringing judgement to Egypt through the death of all firstborn. Death was literally coming, but the blood of the sacrificial lamb above their door was the sign that His people believed that God would save them. Those with this mark would be passed over from death. The next morning His people were alive, but the first born of the people of Egypt were not. God redeemed His people. Each part of the seder meal was meant to reflect this time.

As Jesus passed the wine to His disciples, they would have remembered that they are sacred to God. When they washed their hands they proclaimed that they were clean. As they tasted the bitterness of the vegetables in salt, they are reminded of the bitterness of being slaves in Egypt. When they broke the bread they remembered that they were broken without God. Each of the fourteen steps of the meal reminded them that they were God's people and that God saves His people. What was amazing to me was that the one who would bring meaning to these symbols was now in their midst.

That evening Jesus was arrested, brought before the leaders of that same Israel, and sacrificed just like the lamb. Hope was lost. His disciples placed Him in the tomb, confused about what would happen next. Was this really the King? We know that the story was not over. He is risen! Like the Passover, we can now celebrate how the lamb was slain to rescue His people. This was just one image of Jesus hidden in the grand story of the Old Testament, where every scene revealed our need for the Savior to rescue them from death and bring His people to life once again. From Adam and Eve, to us, His story was always about bringing light onto the darkness, life out of death. With Jesus we have hope.

With that hope in mind, I remembered the death of my Katherine that Sunday. I sat in our sunroom looking at pictures of us throughout the years. I remember our travels, seeing the beauty of other places around this world. I remember the times camping, sitting next to the fire roasting hot dogs and listening to the crickets singing songs. I remember the special times with family and friends playing games and watching movies. I flashed back to the walks on the beach with sand in our toes, the sun setting in a blaze of glory. I remember sitting with her in a local cafe with a Latte, or a Margherita at a random restaurant. I can picture us snuggling on the couch, her head resting on my chest as we watch a funny show. So many memories that showed the great life we had together. In light of Jesus' death, I wanted to celebrate her life. Afterwards I took off my wedding ring and set it next to hers on the mantle next to her ashes. Then I said "this is not goodbye".

Easter was a great reminder that, like Jesus, Katherine's story did not end when she passed from this world. She was a follower of Jesus and part of that family of God, like Israel was in Egypt where His love was also redeeming. When we are part of God's story, part of His family, nothing can separate us from that love.

... neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:38-39

Not even death! When I picture the night she passed away, this was the most encouraging thing I can hear. It changes things when we know that our story, our lives, are not bound in the darkness of passing from this world. It makes us look at death not as a end, but as another beginning. Like someone going home. This was the same for Israel after the Passover, when God then led them into the promised land, flowing with milk (life) and honey (provision). This is also true for all who are in His family.

But I guess this should also change how we live. When we leave this earth, we are not leaving just memories and legacies, but our story continues in those we bring into God's story. This happens when we introduce others to the God of grace and redemption, when we show compassion to the broken, when we encourage others in their darkness, when we celebrate with them in the joy, when we disciple other believers, and even when we correct in love and humility. If this is done in love, we know that He is acting in us! He is the author of this story and he continues to write for His glory.

And as our lives fade from this world, the stories we bring to Him will be redeemed fully when we are in His presence. Katherine is there, restored at last from the brokenness of this world and resting with the author and finisher of her faith. This is the power of hope in the resurrection, that those who are bound with Christ here on earth will continue to be bound to Him. And remember, He is risen!!! As we pass from this world and our chapter ends, the grand story will continue to culminate into the ultimate redemption of this world for all eternity.

Such beauty, such love.

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