The Wounds of Death (Devotional for Grief)
“Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!’” (John 20:27 NLT).
My Grief Remains
July 24, 2024 marked 16 years since Christopher died in a car accident. And still, that sorrow hangs over me, my heart weighed down like a heavy stone.
Really? Still grieving after all this time?
Yes. I am.
No matter how many years pass and how much I can proclaim the power of Christ over death, that grief remains. As much as I know that Christopher is in Heaven, I still grieve him here on Earth.
The Wounds of Christ Remain
“Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!’” (John 20:27 NLT).
When Jesus rose from the grave, his wounds still remained. Even in Heaven, we will see them. The marks of His suffering went into the grave with Jesus and came out with Him as well. Even though He broke the bonds of death, Christ kept His wounds.
Why?
“‘My Lord and my God!’ Thomas exclaimed” (John 20:28 NLT).
Jesus’ Wounds Remind Us Who He Is
The crucifixion wounds of Christ are His identity. They told Thomas who He was in that moment, and they forever remind us who He is. They were the proof to show everyone what He had gone through—the death He had endured and how He conquered it for good.
Refusing to Let Death Win (Choosing the Good Amid Tragedy)
I believe we are all called to rise from all our dark graves. I read over the church’s prayer requests, which I get in an email every week. It is pages long, full of suffering: sickness, financial loss, and family heartbreaks. . . and as I scroll over the list, my heart identifies in sympathy for the wounds they suffer today.
My grief and pain became my way of identifying with others, of sharing a love with our community that I never knew before.
If we walk through grief and trials and our love for those around us is not expanded, death has won. If our gratitude for what is good does not flame up, death has won. If aching for a new day is not intensified, death has won. If hope is weakened and faith diminished, death has won.
But when we walk with our wounds as we rise from our graves, we declare the victory of Christ over death. We show our grief to others, take those who are suffering into our arms, and help them through the darkest times. We share the resurrection and the light of Jesus through our sorrow.
Make no mistake. . . if you see me smiling, if you see me rise up to serve or to laugh, just know—I still bear the wounds of Christopher’s death. My rising does not remove them. They mark me as they always will. Like Jesus said, “If you want to know who I am, put your hand in the wound at my side.”
That is the fight I will fight. Death does not and never will have the last word here. Christ does.
—
Learn more about Cathe Laurie
