On Holy Saturday I wrote about our Navigator friend Ed Newell’s passing on April 6, just three days after he and his wife decided he was too weak for treatment. Sad, but with the warning we had, not shocking.

Shocking happened on Holy Saturday itself. We got a call from Aunt Marge, the widow of June’s Uncle Roger. We’re still close to Marge and her five children. Aunt Marge called to say that her son Steve had just passed away.

Steve lived in the Atlanta area, loved Jesus, was a lifelong Bible student and an all-around good guy, died of an apparent heart attack at age 58(!). He had just finished his usual daily bicycle ride (just 30 miles on Saturday) and an hour-long conversation with his mother. His wife found him slumped over…gone despite attempts to revive him by EMTs and a nearby hospital.

His mother, also a lifelong Jesus follower, former missionary, was trying to put the Easter spin on it: “It’s really good news,” she said through her tears. I responded, “It’s good news for Steve; it’s bad news for us!”

I notice that in one of the post-resurrection stories, John 21, Jesus includes a prediction about Peter’s death:

Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” (John 21.18, 19, ESV)

In these tough times (and all times), death is present, but Jesus’ resurrection gives us hope.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11.25, 26, ESV)

And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4.13, NLT)

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21.1 – 4, NIV)