University of Kentucky offensive line coach John Schlarman died Thursday at the age of 45 after a two-year battle with cancer. The Wildcats wanted to pay a special tribute to their coach, who also played football for Kentucky from 1994 to 1997. So they took the field with only ten players, lining up without a left guard for the first play of their game today against Vanderbilt. After Kentucky was called for a delay of game penalty (which Vanderbilt declined to accept), senior lineman Landon Young took the field for Kentucky wearing Schlarman’s #65 instead of his usual #67. It was a very fitting tribute to their fallen coach.

Every Sunday we Christians have the opportunity to honor Jesus Christ, our crucified Lord and Savior. Whenever we take communion, we pay a special tribute to him. We remember that he died to pay for our sins. This tribute, however, is different in that we not only acknowledge his death, we also give testimony to the fact that he has risen from the grave! Our crucified and risen Savior lives! He reigns from heaven, and one day he will come back to receive all who trust in him, to take them home to heaven to live with him forever!

What a fitting tribute to our wonderful Lord and Savior!

“For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”—1 Corinthians 11:26.