“He placed his right hand on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.’” (Rev. 1:17-18). “He will wipe every tear out of their eyes, and death will be no more” (Rev. 21:4).
Lord Jesus, thank you for guaranteeing the Day of no more death—whether by “natural causes” and aging, way too early “Homecomings,” or by senseless acts and dark circumstances. Though you have already removed death’s “sting” (1 Cor. 15:55-56), it still slaps us in the face, buckles our knees, and rocks our sensibilities,.
Thank you for validating our shock, encouraging our grief, and giving us tears. Standing before your friend’s grave, you wept before you raised Lazarus to life. You revealed your anguish before you exercised your power. Death is a violation. It’s not the way things are supposed to be.
It’s only because of your death and resurrection, we now gratefully affirm death isn’t sovereign, you are. Sin didn’t triumph, you did. Our funeral doesn’t get the last word, you do. Jesus, you are the grace giver and grave robber. Death’s keys are in your hand, and so are we.
With the same hand you will wipe every tear out of eyes, reach into our painful stories of loss now. We still have questions, but we don’t question your goodness and faithfulness. Because the Gospel is true, to be absent from the body is to be present with you. Life is Christ and death is gain. Our mourning is for this brief, painful moment; but eternal joy will come in the morning. Thank you, and So Very Amen.