Remember How He Told You

According to modeling by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington in Seattle, the United States will reach its highest daily number of deaths from COVID-19 on or around this Sunday.

I find this strikingly ironic due to the fact that this Sunday is also the day that we celebrate our Lord’s resurrection. The day that is projected to be our nation’s highest death toll from COVID-19 is the very day that we celebrate Jesus Christ defeating death once and for all.

On that Sunday 2,000 years ago, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome were alarmed to find the grave empty when they came to visit Jesus’ body to anoint Him with spices. An angel asked them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” Remember how He told you. Oh, how easily we forget.

May we not forget that Jesus died on Friday, but rose to life on Sunday. May we not forget that when the earthquake rolled that stone away from the tomb, Jesus Christ came walking out of it, very much alive. May we remember with everything in us that even in the face of death, Jesus’ death and resurrection have secured life – eternal life – for those of us who are in Christ. Remember how He told you.

Though each and every one of us will inevitably face death (unless Jesus returns first), the sting of death was removed when Jesus rose to life. The hopelessness associated with death was replaced with a beautiful hope when Jesus walked out of that grave. Though death is still inevitable, the emptiness associated with it is removed. Though we still grieve, we now grieve with a hope that is like a balm to our souls (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Eternal death is no longer the destiny for those of us who are in Christ Jesus!

Jesus’ final words as He suffered on the cross say it all: “It is finished.”

It is finished. In Christ, the sting of death is removed. Our sins can be forgiven once and for all. We can be redeemed from even our worst moments and our most grievous sins. We can be reconciled to a right relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ – all because “it is finished.” If you are a believer in Jesus Christ – if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9) and repent your sins to Him (1 John 1:9) – then death no longer has a hold on you.

One of my favorite songs (“O Death” by People & Songs) states this truth so beautifully:

“O death, where’s your boast? Where’s your glory?… You must have thought that Friday sealed your victory, but Sunday came and trampled on your schemes. And all you did was all you could and yet it failed because Jesus rose and sank you to the grave. And in resurrection I refuse to fear you. O death, you died and I’m alive instead. All you meant for evil, God destined for my good. Kill my body you could, but still I’ll live on forever. And when I should breathe no more, louder then I’ll sing, for death you are the wide door to where I’ll live on forever in the presence of my Savior.”

“It is finished.” He has defeated death and, therefore, those of us who are in Him have hope. “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said” (Matthew 28:6). We have hope for our future resurrection (Romans 6:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) and we have hope that our loved ones who are in Christ will also one day rise again.

Let us not forget to remember what Resurrection Sunday truly means for us. Though we cannot come together to celebrate with our churches or have big dinners with family, we can – and must – still celebrate the risen Savior. This was not just a very real day in history, but it is a very real day today. In the face of a worldwide pandemic, on the very day that the death toll is projected to be at its highest, may we remember what Christ has done.

And may we live in light of that day over 2,000 years ago, thankful for His resurrection and looking forward to when we will one day rise with Him. Praise Jesus.