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Early Wednesday morning, the Rev. Billy Graham passed away at age 99 at his home in Montreat,
N.C.
In response to the news of his passing, national and international leaders simultaneously grieved
his death and celebrated his life. And for good reason.
He should be remembered for his global reach, having preached live to approximately 215
million people in more than 185 countries or territories, and via television and radio
to hundreds of millions more.
He should be remembered for his personal influence, having met and prayed with every U. S. president
from Dwight Eisenhower to Barack Obama, and having preached at funeral services for Presidents
Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon.
He should be remembered for the way his ministry spanned across many of America's public
divides. Graham was recognized by many Americans—Republican and Democrat, black and white, North and South—as
"America's pastor."
He should be remembered for his opposition to racial bigotry, having refused to preach
to segregated audiences. For this reason, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. counted Graham
a friend and an ally, once remarking, "Had it not been for the ministry of my good friend
Billy Graham, my work in the Civil Rights Movement would not have been as successful
as it has been."
He should be remembered for the love and faithfulness that characterized his marriage to Ruth McCue
Bell, to whom he was married for 64 years. His reputation was unblemished by sexual or
financial scandals.
But more than anything, he should be remembered for the gospel. It is this gospel to which
he devoted his life and ministry.
What is the "gospel" Billy Graham preached?
The Christian gospel is the announcement that two thousand years ago Jesus of Nazareth was
crucified. Powerful members of the religious, political, and military communities colluded
to strip him naked, mock him publicly, and crucify him. And it is the announcement that,
even while powerful men were conspiring to kill the Son of God, God himself was acting
to save the world from itself, once and for all.
But what does Jesus' crucifixion have to do with him saving the world? As the Bible
teaches, Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection accomplished three things, which together
provide an explanation for why Billy Graham devoted his life to preaching about them:
On the cross, Jesus suffered so that we could be delivered from suffering.
Unlike other religions Christianity teaches that all of us are born with a tendency to
sin. Like Adam and Eve, we refuse to recognize God as God and we break his law repeatedly.
Because God is the universal King and ultimate Law-giver, our sins are mutinous; they represent
an attempt to steal his kingship and replace his laws. For that reason, each of us deserves
death as the penalty for our law-breaking.
Yet the Bible also teaches that God loves us and does not want us to suffer the penalty
of our sin. For that reason, he took on a human body and came to earth as Jesus. When
he did that, he "traded places" with us. He lived the sinless life that we should have
lived, and died the death that we deserve to die. He took our guilty record, died for
it, and offers us his perfect record in return. That is why the apostle Paul declared that
"there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom
8:1).
Through the cross, we can be reconciled to God and each other.
Because of our sins, we alienate ourselves from God and others, but Jesus saves us from
our sins in order to mend those relationships. That is why the Bible says, "For it pleased
the Father that . . . by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things
on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross" (Col
1:19-20). In fact, Jesus' reconciling powers will cause all relational barriers to be torn
down, including the barriers of ethnicity and nationality (Rev 5:9-10).
Because of the cross and resurrection, we have hope for the future.
The Bible connects Jesus' crucifixion with his resurrection. After Jesus suffered on
the cross, he was buried, but on the third day he rose from the grave! When he rose from
the dead, he not only confirmed his divinity but declared that he would return one day
to make things right. He will return to disestablish evil, sin, and death from their artificial
throne, and establish himself as the true King over a kingdom characterized by justice,
peace, and love (Rev 21-22).
For these reasons, Billy Graham invited anybody who would listen to embrace Jesus as the Savior
that he is, to trust in him alone for our salvation. He alone can save (Acts 4:12) and
there is no sinner too bad for him to save (1 Tim 1:15).
For these reasons, we shouldn't be sad for Billy Graham. In his own words, "Someday
you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don't you believe a word of it. I
shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have
gone into the presence of God."
And for these reasons, we should do what Billy Graham did: trust in Jesus and invite anybody
who will listen to trust in Jesus also.
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