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We preachers are rarely asked to serve as pallbearers for funeral services. Probably the exceptions are when it comes to our families. The last time that I served as a pallbearer was for my Uncle Orlyn Kelly. Late in their lives he and my dad had gotten closer as brothers should. I had always been fairly close to my cousins and thought the world of Uncle Orlyn and Aunt Helen. I was privileged to be able to be at his bedside when he passed away and even more honored when I was included as one of his pallbearers. Such is a sacred trust handed out by a family to those whom they feel loved their family member.

I am not sure if the general public was aware of this, but Jack Nicklaus was afforded a rather singular honor in 2005 when an old friend of his asked him if Jack would be willing to be a pallbearer at his funeral. On January 3 of this year Jack Nicklaus honored his friend's request and was one of those who attended the casket for the funeral service. The friend was former President of the United States, Gerald R. Ford. You would think that someone of Nicklaus' stature would not be very shook by such a request, even from a former President and friend. "I was flabbergasted," he said of the request.

I wonder. How would we react if we were asked to be an attendant at the funeral of someone with worldwide fame? Would we decline in humility saying that we are not worthy of such an honor? Would we accept with grateful understanding knowing the gravity of the request? As I said before, it is a sacred trust that the family, or the person prior to their death, has accorded. Such a request should always be received with the utmost dignity and respect for the one who will require the services. What if the most well known person who ever lived were to ask us to be an attendant at his or her funeral? It is a solemn request of the deepest remembrance.

The greatest and most notable events of Jesus' life are those that are given in all four gospel accounts. His death and resurrection are such events, as is what we call "The Last Supper." It was in the process of observing their last Passover together that Jesus used two important parts of the meal to serve as His invitation for those who love Him to be an attendant at His funeral service. "And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying,'This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.' " Luke 22:19 A funeral service is a remembrance, a looking back at the life of one and their purpose for living.

As a minister and member of the body of Christ I am honored each week to be one of those who serves as an attendant at the funeral service of Jesus. Those emblems that he sanctified at that last passover remind me of the fact that Jesus lived a life of grace and beauty as a man (the bread) to show me that God's righteousness is possible in life here on earth through Him; and then died (the cup) that His blood could forgive my sins. I hold that appointment with my Savior as inviolate. I would not think of rejecting His request to remember Him each Sunday through what is now known as Communion or the Lord's Supper. The Lord of all and King of kings has asked me to remember Him.

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

The Fulfilling Marriage