The Same Story

Frank Wampol did an outstanding job on Sunday morning directing our hearts toward a better understanding of the emotional and physical agony that Jesus experienced during his crucifixion and the time leading up to it. Before Sunday, I knew that Frank was going to speak on this particular topic and I was a little nervous Sunday morning because if the subject was going to be addressed in detail the way it should be, then my impressionable young children could become concerned or confused. However, on Sunday, as Frank spoke and shared some images, I watched as my children were engaged with what was being discussed. Canaan, my 6-year-old son, opened his story book Bible to the chapter that discusses Jesus’s crucifixion and death. After a while, Canaan turned a few pages ahead, and opened to the story of the empty tomb. He looked up at me and asked, “Is this the same story,” to which I responded with a smile in my heart, “Yes, it is.”

It is so important that we do our best to understand the suffering of Jesus, and humble ourselves with the knowledge that he endured that on our behalf. I believe it’s also very important to remember that the story of the death of Jesus is a story in which death was defeated. The story of Jesus’s death ends with his victory over it. It’s the same story and it is part of our story that will lead to eternal life in Him.

- Josh