The Sting Has Been Taken Away
By Pastor Jerry A. Burns
A father and his young son were driving down a quiet country road on a beautiful spring afternoon. Suddenly a bumblebee flew through the open car window. The little boy froze with fear because he was deathly allergic to bee stings. Seeing his son’s terror, the father quickly reached out, caught the bee in his hand, squeezed it, and then released it. When the bee began buzzing around again, the boy panicked once more.
The father calmly held up his hand. Embedded in his skin was the stinger. “You don’t need to be afraid anymore,” he told his son. “I’ve taken the sting for you.” The bee could still buzz, but it could no longer harm the child. The danger had already been absorbed by the father.
This simple moment beautifully illustrates the gospel. Death still buzzes around us in this fallen world. We see sickness, funerals, and grief, and it can make us fearful. But for the believer, the sting has already been removed. Jesus Christ stepped in and took the sting of death upon Himself at the cross. Through His death and resurrection, He defeated sin and the grave. Death may still come physically, but it no longer has the power to destroy the child of God.
Read 1 Corinthians 15 and reflect on Paul’s explanation of the resurrection and the believer’s victory over death.
When fear of death or uncertainty arises, remember that Christ has already taken the sting for you. Rest in the victory He secured through His death and resurrection.
"For I know that my redeemer liveth, And that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth" — Job 19:25
Daily Scripture Reading
Join us as we read through the Bible in one year, growing together in God’s Word day by day. Click on any underlined verse to access Pastor Burns’ helpful study notes and deeper insights.
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This Week's Radio Program
Week Forty-Four • November 1, 2026
What are you Seeking?
In this week’s message titled "What are you Seeking?" from Kitchener Baptist Church, Pastor Jerry A. Burns explores John 20 to show how the world searches for meaning in the wrong places. Listeners will hear how Solomon looked for purpose in worldly success and pleasures only to find vanity, and how Mary Magdalene sought her Savior at the tomb, weeping for the dead before discovering He had risen.
Pastor Burns reminds us that true life is found only in Jesus Christ. The reality of Christ gives us life, and His resurrection is the key to our salvation and eternal life. We must choose life, for Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Join us on "Timeless Truths" as we turn to God's Word for these vital answers.
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