I’ve not only noticed a Facebook/IG trend through the years; I’ve been a participant: commemorating the anniversary of a loved one’s passing. Generally, the loved one is remembered for their character qualities, acts of kindness, impact on remaining generations, and the lessons that they taught through all of the above.
Perhaps that’s why, on this day, I feel compelled to share the impact of Someone I love dearly—Someone Whose death is honored on this day, though it is likely not the exact anniversary of His death.
As for His character qualities, they seem exaggerated when I say from my heart that they are unmatched by anyone else in history. His integrity kept Him honest. His greatness kept Him humble. His love kept Him true to His promises. His character was flawless, making Him trustworthy.
As for His acts of kindness, He loved all of humankind, regardless of the vast differences between them. He forgave (and continues to forgive) those who have gone so far as to hate Him, to harass Him, to deny knowing Him—and even those who say they love Him when they show only signs of selfishness. People like me. His greatest act of love and kindness is what cost Him His life on this day that we commemorate and on which we reflect. My wrongdoings would have cost me an eternity of punishment. But this Great Man, this loving One about Whom I write, said, “I’ll take her punishment. I’m guiltless Myself, but I’ll take her guilt—because I love her . . . and all who are like her in their inability to ever rid themselves of the punishment on their own. Herein is the deepest of love.
When speaking of the deceased, our honoring of them would be incomplete without acknowledging their legacy. Legacy endures, evidenced when the lessons that were nurtured and taught are lived out in the lives of those who remain—and in those of future generations yet to come. This Man I honor today was the epitome of impacting the world around Him—and the entire world, in His case. His life and legacy were permanently recorded for future generations to learn from. His words were written down so that all of humankind (present and future) could know of His love and of the sacrifice He made on this day that we honor.
He taught us to love each other (as He, Himself did); He taught us to forgive each other (as He, Himself did); He taught us to live the lessons His Father taught Him.
His death gave value to our lives. No one—not one person—would take the punishment for someone they hate. But only One Man, this Jesus of Whom I write, would take the punishment for those who have hated Him—because He loved them.
The thrilling part of this eulogy, honoring the One I love more than my own life, is that it is temporary. Unlike anyone else in history, He did not remain dead . . . Sunday’s comin’!