Epitaph for Jesus?

Epitaphs are a powerful thing, a window into how we lived our lives. Khushwant Singh, one of the best-known Indian writers of all time who died at the age of 99, wrote his own epitaph some years before his death – “Here lies one who spared neither man nor God; Waste not your tears on him … Thank the Lord, he is dead…” Emily Dickinson, an American poet who dropped out of seminary after 10 months but famously introduced the world to a new kind of writing and poetry, is also known to have written her epitaph – “Called Back”! The above two epitaphs speak volumes by themselves.
If ever there was one needed for Jesus, “The Cross” may have been an appropriate epitaph, which shows His eternal Love. Or “The Empty Tomb,” which signifies the eternal Power of God. Jesus knew who He was and will be, and hence never needed to write one, nor did anyone else have to do so. His powerful words were sufficient to prove His deity: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” John 11:25 is the attested statement of the God who was, is and will be, the Alpha and the Omega.
The Cross and The Empty Tomb, or Christ’s death and resurrection, tell us all we need to know about the Great Reconciliation Plan God planned for us. We need reconciliation with God because our relationship with Him was broken. Our ransom was paid for, hope renewed and redemption assured.
The risen Saviour appeared to the two walking towards Emmaus. He walked with them, talked to them, ate with them, and explained the Scriptures to them, opening their eyes and proving to them that: ‘I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.’ Luke 24:13-53 is evidence that God has not forsaken any of us. The risen Christ meets us along the often confused, chaotic, fearful paths of life. His resurrection gives us hope, promises, privileges, blessings, victories and responsibilities.
Here are some effects of Christ’s death and resurrection –
 REDEEMED: Redemption is the promise of God to deliver us from the power and presence of sin, to be forgiven, holy, justified, free, adopted, and reconciled. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” (Eph. 1:7)
 RANSOMED: Christians are “bought with a price.” (1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23) Jesus’ sacrifice is the means by which God delivers or saves humankind from sin and death. The Bible refers to the shed blood of Jesus as a ransom price. (1 Peter 1:18-19) Jesus came “to give His life a ransom for many.”
 RECONCILED TO RECONCILE: Our reconciliation with God comes with a responsibility. As the Apostle Paul declares in Rom. 5:10, “For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” “All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Cor. 5:18)
 RIGHT RELATIONSHIP: Resurrection gives us a relationship that will never be broken, never be abandoned, never be forgotten and will be forever. A broken relationship, restored. “I in them and You in Me – that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.” (John 17:21-23) With this comes another responsibility of loving others as Christ loved us. “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” (Philippians. 2:5)
 REASON FOR HOPE: God’s Word is our hope because God rose from the dead and he is alive. Jesus could not have said it more clearly when He said, “Because I live, you will live also” (Jn 14:19). “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3, NIV) “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Cor. 15:19)
 RESURRECTION POWER: Peter the betrayer could stand up to the powerful Sanhedrin council (composed of 70 religious leaders, plus the presiding high priest). The amazing miracle of the healing of the crippled man (Acts 3:1-10) provided Peter and John the occasion to witness to them boldly. “And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.” (Acts 4:33)
 RESURRECTION GUARANTEED: “The Resurrection of Jesus and His assuring promises guarantees our resurrection. George Herbert rightly says, “Death used to be an executioner, but the resurrection of Christ makes him nothing but a gardener. When he tries to bury you, he’s really planting you, and you’re going to come up better than before.” Along with the Apostle Paul, we too can say, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” We have hope for this life and life after. (1 Cor. 15:19-23)
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) This was the message preached by Peter at Pentecost which brought 3,000 souls into the Kingdom! “He has risen” – three powerful words that would have been a good epitaph on Jesus’ tomb and because of which the power of sin and death have been broken. Easter is the earthshaking, spellbinding answer for all our fears, doubts, discouragements and disbeliefs.
Come to Jesus as you are this season to receive forgiveness of sin and the eternal life He offers. Say this simple prayer and begin a new chapter in your life: “Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior.”
Dr. Jose
Managing Editor
Forerunner magazine, Bangalore
josetnithi@gmail.com