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Eulogies are good and serve a useful purpose. But quite frankly,
I became frustrated listening to continuous eulogies of Jimmy Stewart
and Charles Kuralt last week.
The media carries on endlessly about their own who have passed
from this life. But, I wonder what would happen if the same people
were to eulogize the greatest man who walked the face of the earth
- Jesus Christ.
If the media could talk to the apostle James, perhaps he would
tell them about Christ's transfiguration. There, a voice came from
heaven saying: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Hear Him" (Matt. 17:5). And James might tell about Jesus' prayer
in the garden (Matt. 26:36-46) or about His betrayal and arrest
(Jn. 18:1-11).
If the media could talk to the apostle John, perhaps he would tell
them about Jesus' teachings on love the evening of His betrayal
(Jn. 15:9-17). And John might tell them about Jesus' prayer for
His disciples and all believers (Jn. 17:6-26).
If the media could talk to the apostle Peter, he might tell them
about walking on the water with Jesus (Jn. 16:13-20). He might tell
them how he began to sink while walking on water but that Jesus
stretched out his hand and saved him. Peter might tell them about
his three denials of Jesus and about how he wept when the rooster
crowed (Lk. 22:54-62). And Peter might tell them about Jesus lovingly
restoring Him by asking Him three times whether he loved Him (Jn.
21:15-19).
If the media could talk to Mary, she might tell them about the
angel who visited her to tell her that she would bear the Son of
God (Lk. 1:26-38). She might tell them about the birth of Jesus
and the wise men who visited and gave them gifts (Matt. 2:1-12).
Mary might tell them about her Son's cruel death on the cross (Jn.
19:17-42). She might tell them about Jesus resurrecting from the
dead and that He is sitting on the throne of God (Jn. 20:1-18; Heb.
5:1-11).
Jesus' apostles are not hear to eulogize Him. Jesus' mother is
not hear to eulogize Him. And the media is not anxious to spend
hours reporting on the life of Christ.
So who can eulogize Jesus today? His disciples.
Christians have a responsibility to tell the old, old story. Christians
have a responsibility to spread the good news of Jesus Christ thus
telling others about Jesus and His life.
Paul said: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer
I who lives, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live
in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and
gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20). So if Christ lives in me,
then others must see Christ through me, and therefore my whole life
is Christ's eulogy.
Finally, Christians eulogize Christ each time they partake of the
Lord's Supper. Paul wrote to the Corinthians correcting their abuses
of the Lord's Supper and said: "For often as you eat this bread
and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till he comes"
(1 Cor. 11:26).
If we proclaim the Lord's death in partaking of the Lord's Supper,
is this not a eulogy of Christ's death?
Now contemplate your life: Do others see Christ in you? Are you
telling the old, old story by everything you do? Are you Christ's
eulogy?
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