By Pastor Dennis Morales

“Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still…” Luke 7:14

There is no arguing that one of the most painful occurrences in life is losing a loved one. Jesus came upon a widow who had just lost her only son. According to old Jewish custom, the women would precede a funeral procession because women were believed to have brought death into the world in the line of Eve. This widow would be the first person He would see and He looked at her with compassion (Luke 7:13). It was custom for family members and friends to come and touch the coffin, which would halt the procession, and say a few words of comfort to the survived. Then the procession would continue. According to custom, Jesus stood at the procession and touched the coffin. Jesus tells the woman “do not weep.” He then tells the young man in the coffin to “get up.” “So that he who was dead sat up and began to speak” (Luke 7:15). What Jesus did was unprecedented. Under normal circumstances the funeral procession would have continued. But when Jesus stopped the funeral procession and it never continued! Jesus essentially stopped death in its tracks. This is what Jesus has done for all mankind through the Cross. He has halted the effect of sin and eternal death upon all those who believe in Him (Jn 3:16). Jesus’ death on the Cross defeated sin and He further punctuates this by His Rising from the dead. In this is the Easter message. (1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 55-57)

Calvary Chapel Eastvale meets Sundays 8:30 and 10:30am @ Eastvale Elementary School. http://www.calvaryeastvale.org EASTER SERVICES: 8:30AM and 10:30AM.