When friends and loved ones die we usually want to do something meaningful to honor them. Sending flowers has been a common custom for many.

Over 2,000 years ago two women went to the cemetery in the early morning hours to honor the one they loved so much. They took spices to anoint the body of the one who was laid in a dark, cold tomb. As they went, they discussed how they would roll away the heavy stone from the entrance of the tomb. When they arrived, they were shocked to discover that the stone had already been rolled away. As they peered inside they saw two angels dressed in brilliant white robes. The angels said to them, “Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He has risen from the dead! Don’t’ you remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and that he would rise again on the third day?” (Luke 24 NLT)

Send no flowers to the grave of Jesus. He’s not there. He is risen! The tomb is empty. Death could not keep him.

When the women reported to the eleven disciples what had happened, they thought the women were speaking nonsense. Peter and John ran to the tomb to see for themselves. Peter arrived first and “stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings . . . wondering what had happened.” When John arrived and went in, he saw an empty cocoon. “He saw and believed” (John 21:3-10NLT). Jesus made numerous appearances to his followers over a space of 40 days before he ascended back to his heavenly Father. He then sent the Holy Spirit to be with us and to indwell ever believer. (See Acts 2:22-39.)

When you send flowers upon the death of a friend or loved one, remember Jesus’ promise to us when he raised Lazarus from the dead. “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again. They are given eternal life for believing in me and will never perish. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26 NLT)

Easter brings the hope and promise of eternal life. (See I Thessalonians 4:13-17.) Faith in the substitutionary, sacrificial death of Jesus Christ for your sins and faith in his bodily resurrection from the dead brings you victory over death, hell, and the grave. (I Corinthians 15:1-22.) In Jesus there are no sunsets – they are all sunrises. He is the “bright and morning star” – not the evening star. He heralds the dawn not the dark.

Rufus Mosley, a layman called upon to conduct a funeral, went to the New Testament to see how Jesus conducted a funeral and found that “Jesus did not conduct funerals, He conducted resurrections. What we have in Jesus does not have the feel of a funeral upon it – it has the feel of a resurrection.”

Send no flowers for Jesus. He is the resurrection and the life. Jesus Christ is the principle and the power of resurrection. If you have Jesus you have resurrection in the present – the now. Not just in the sweet bye and bye. He is resurrecting your mind, your spirit, your hope, your outlook, your up look, your everything.

Bringing flowers to a loved one’s grave is a meaningful gesture. But Jesus isn’t requesting flowers – he wants your heart. Because the grave of Jesus is empty, his followers can anticipate being united with him in the glory of heaven. There is a glad reunion day with departed loved ones and friends who have accepted God’s gift of salvation in Jesus Christ by faith. (See Ephesians 2:8-9.) But it will be a mournful day for those who reject or neglect God’s gift of salvation. (See Hebrews 2:3 and 3:12.) Commit your life to him today so you can live with him forever.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9).