Pulpit Today

Marriages and funerals will always be part of a minister’s portfolio.  But while these events may occupy a pastor’s call to service did you ever consider that Jesus never conducted a funeral?  A marriage yes, but a funeral, no!

One young minister was asked to officiate a funeral.  He prepared his sermon with agonizing difficulty and searched through the Gospels to uncover how Christ preached funerals.  But to his amazement his examination could not produce one funeral that Jesus preached.

Why didn’t Jesus preach a funeral?  Well, consider Who He was.  Jesus was the “resurrection and the life,” and that meant death couldn’t abide in His life-giving presence!  The sheer power of Christ’s presence 2000 years ago would not allow anyone die in His presence and those He approached who were dead could not remain lifeless in His presence!

While traveling through the city of Nain Jesus interrupted the funeral of a widow’s son.  When He drew near the casket and touched the boy death disappeared and life reemerged!  Even at Calvary, crucified between two thieves, the criminals could not precede Him in death.  Jesus died first.  And that’s why He could declare, “I am the resurrection [nobody can die in My presence] and I am the Life” [nobody can remain dead in My presence]!