My great-grandparents and my grandmother are all in Heaven now, but they would be thrilled to know that I will be returning to Huai'an next week, not just to visit the place of my grandmother's birth, but to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
My friends, it's hard to not focus on the pain He endured for us. But, as we look at this Easter, I want you to consider another way Jesus was made to suffer in the moments before His crucifixion. Consider the emotional pain Christ endured as those who were closest to Him turned their backs.
There are many things that a grandfather can leave for his grandson. For instance, the grandson may carry his grandfather's looks, legacy or worldview. He may even receive his possessions. For me, when I sit and contemplate my grandfather, Billy Graham, I think that one of the greatest gifts he has given me in his twilight years is something more subtle. He's given me a lesson.
While the gift of salvation is free, this does not mean that there is no cost to being a follower of Christ. So many want to live the Christian life without any sacrificing or any giving, but there's more to it than that. For instance, in saying "Yes" to Christ, we're saying "No" to much of what the world around us has to offer.
The Easter Sunrise Service has always been one of my favorite services to preach. There's something so special and unique about gathering to worship the risen Savior on Easter morning. It's a time when we can focus most on the sacrifice and glorious resurrection of Jesus, which gives us hope and removes the sting of death. I love it!
Will Graham, the son of Franklin and Jane Graham and the grandson of Ruth and Billy Graham, penned this tribute to the enduring love between his grandparents. Five years after Ruth's passing on June 14, 2007, we join Will in remembering this godly woman's legacy.
