The satirical site The Onion ran a humorous (note: fictional) article with a biting truth. The article was titled “World Death Rate Holding Steady at 100 Percent.”

The article reported: “World Health Organization officials expressed disappointment Monday at the group’s finding that, despite the enormous efforts of doctors, rescue workers, and other medical professionals worldwide, the global death rate remains constant at 100 percent.

Death, a metabolic affliction, causing total shutdown of all life functions, has long been considered humanity’s number one health concern. Responsible for 100 percent of all recorded fatalities worldwide, the condition has no cure.”

No cure. Really?

Too bad they never heard the great news that Jesus broke death!

Pilate allowed for the guards to be posted at Jesus’ tomb because the worried priests were afraid some of His disciples would come and steal His body and then claim He had arisen. It never occurred to them that Jesus might actually live again. Their defense was not against a truly resurrected Christ, but of an earthly plot to make them look bad.

What a tragic loss for them to not see the resurrected Christ! For in that resurrection is the power to save, to heal, to let us know that our death is not final and that in the end, He will eternally triumph over all death, disease, and sin.

The Christian’s joy is that Jesus turned the world of cause and effect on its head. Death caused life, and all efforts to repress this great truth only serve to spread it farther and wider.

The next time someone says the global death rate remains constant at 100 percent, remind them of another 100 percent reality: Jesus is alive, and so one day shall all those be who have died in Him and given their hearts to Him.

Jesus Christ is risen – He is risen indeed!

–Mic Thurber is RMC president; photo supplied