Honoring the Dead
It is customary for the human race to honor those who pass from this life. Early in the Biblical record, Abraham purchased the cave of Machpelah in order to give a proper burial to his beloved wife Sarah. Today in almost every town, if you are in the right place at the right time, you may have to pull over to allow a funeral procession to pass by. This is done out of respect and honor for the life represented as well as personal sorrow. This is done because it is the right thing to do.
The death of a president serves as another example of how Americans honor their dead. Our 40th president, Ronald Reagan, was honored in death in a manner few on the earth will ever experience. He was honored for his position, service, and character. He was honored because the presidency of the United States has been held as an honorable occupation since its inception. Reagan had weaknesses as any man. He was imperfect as were the 39 before him and every president to follow. But honoring his death was both appropriate and acceptable.
It is amazing to consider the humility of the Son of God when you compare His funeral with the funeral of other men. Almost all His followers had forsaken Him. A few of them stood at a distance (Luke 23:49). Only Joseph of Arimathea, with the help of Nicodemus, made arrangements to prepare His body and lay it in a tomb (John 19:38-42). On the first day of the week, some of the women who had been following Him during His ministry came with spices to the place where He was laying (Matt. 28:1ff.). But still, none of His apostles had come to honor Him, and the Jewish and Roman leaders were hoping that the world would forget about the man called “Jesus.”
It was a far cry from the commandment Jesus had instituted only a few days prior to His crucifixion – “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). Jesus had required His followers to honor His death. Once He rose from the grave they began to understand and practice the commandment. The New Testament teaches that they honored the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus every first day of the week (Acts 20:7). Their salvation depended upon them doing so in a worthy manner (1 Cor. 11:27-30). In partaking, the Lord’s death would be proclaimed to the world until He returned (1 Cor. 11:26).
It is unthinkable that people who know Jesus would ever dishonor His death. Or is it? Do we respect work and social events in dress and attitude more than we do Lord’s day worship? Do we honor the death of Jesus in worship as we partake of His supper, or do we talk to our neighbor, become preoccupied with other things, or decide not to partake or even attend at all? Would we miss the assembly that served as the remembrance of a loved one for our child’s soccer game? For vacation? What would we be willing to put in second place in order to honor the death of someone we loved – although imperfect, sinful and weak?
This is not really all about the clothes we wear, the activities we engage in, and the honor we give to others as much as it is about the identity of Jesus Christ. He was the perfect example. He is the perfect Redeemer. He will be the blameless Judge. God help us to honor the death of Jesus Christ. His death was unlike all others, because – “He is not here; for He is risen (Matt. 28:6)!”
“He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!” ~ (1 Tim. 6:15)
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AUTHOR: Jeremiah Tatum
