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Three friends were sitting at lunch, discussing the recent funeral of a mutual acquaintance. As usual, death triggered a discussion of the hereafter, life’s purpose, legacy, and the great beyond.
One friend raised a question. “What would you want said at your funeral?” While his buddies pondered the query, he answered his own question. “I’d like them to say, ‘Joe was an incredible doctor who made the lives of those around him better.’”
The second friend spoke up and said, “I’d like for people at my funeral to say, ‘Bill was a caring family man, and a dedicated teacher who greatly impacted the lives of his students.”
The first two friends looked at their remaining friend who was quietly pondering the question. “Well?” they asked.
The third friend said, “I’d want them to say, ‘Look! He’s moving!’”
Hmmm…sounds like what might have been said at Lazarus’ tomb after Jesus raised him from the dead.
Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone.
Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. (John 11:39-45)
At the end of life, those who have put their trust in Jesus will not only “be moving,” they’ll be living like they’ve never lived before!
Topics Illustrated Include:
Death
Easter
Eternal Life
Eulogy
Friends
Funeral
Legacy
Miracle
Resurrection
(Resource cataloged by David R Smith)
