…and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain Rev 21:4

Last year was quite traumatic for my family. My son-in-law, 29, died in an automobile accident leaving behind my daughter, 25, and their 21 month old son. This wasn’t my first experience with death.

I was 8 or 10 when I was first introduced to death. My grandfather had gone into his backyard to mow and before he could get started suffered a massive heart attack. Instantly he was gone. We traveled from our small hometown south of Kansas City to Chicago where I experienced the first of many funerals. As a child I didn’t understand why grandpa was laying there like that in that funny looking bed. Then at the cemetery as I stood far away from the graveside I turned and looked back to see the coffin being lowered into the ground. That wasn’t right! Why would they do that while my dad and grandma sat there and watched?

Since that time I have seen death attack my family taking a sister at 11, my husband when I was only 37, my father, various aunts and uncles, a very dear and close friend, a brother-in-law, and my first grandchild. Some died instantly, some after a lingering illness.

This weekend we, as a nation, we will celebrate a death. Christ died not instantly in an auto accident, not after a lingering illness, but He died a cruel and agonizing death intentionally, to save me!! To save you!! He could have saved himself, but He chose to go through with the pain and death as a sacrifice for sins I have committed and will commit. Christ died that I may have a home with Him in heaven. BUT THAT’S NOT ALL!!! Death may have held my grandson and father and friend, but death did not hold Christ. Death was not able to hold Him in the grave. No, after 3 days Christ defeated death and came out of the grave, He walked the earth, spoke with people, and then He ascended into Heaven where He is preparing a home for me.