Introduction
“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” Hebrews 2:14-15 NIV
Physical death is an equalizer because it is no respecter of persons. Death does not see age, gender, race, or faith. It cares not for money or status. It is merely a part of the current order of things. We live until we die. But the certainty of death does not make it a welcome or desirable reality.
Every day around the world, we fight to live. Some efforts are small: we maneuver carefully, take precautions, test for safety, warn of danger, follow exercise regimes, consider our diet, etc. Some efforts are extreme: amputations, transplants, experimental therapies, and more. And generally speaking, our life-saving efforts are appropriate. God has given us the gift of life; it would be foolish to treat it as trivial and inconsequential.
But what do we do when we feel death’s proximity increasing in our lives? Are we without recourse when accidents, disease, and calamity strike? As those who have been raised to a new life in Christ, can we face the end of our life or watch the life of someone we love ebb away with faith instead of fear?
Oh, dear friend, we cannot escape the sadness of loss, but we can indeed face our death or grieve our loved ones with hope as those who have already died with Christ and risen to a new life in Him (1 Thessalonians 4:14, Romans 6:4-8).
When death stops being an inevitability and becomes your reality, you have a safe haven in your Lord Jesus Christ! Fear and sorrow cannot consume you when you are filled with Jesus, Your eternal Life. In your time of need, you can look to Jesus and find comfort in His Calvary love knowing that at the end of this life, you will not see death, but Christ, who is your life (John 8:51)!
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4
Illustration
In the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel, we learn that one of Israel’s greatest kings, David, was a shepherd before he became the King of Israel. One day, during those early shepherding years of his life, David was sent by his father to check on his brothers who were serving in Israel’s army. And when David arrived at Israel’s encampment, he saw a giant named Goliath mocking the armies of God. David was appalled at the giant’s mockery of God, so David volunteered to fight the giant.
God had prepared David by having David fight and overcome a lion and a bear in his role as a shepherd. David’s battle with Goliath was short-lived because David knocked Goliath out with a single stone thrown from his slingshot. David then grabbed the giant’s own weapon, a massive sword, and cut off Goliath’s head with it. With this single act of victory, David ended Goliath’s life and empowered God’s people to overcome their enemy, the Philistines (1 Samuel 17:51-53).
Similarly, Jesus, our Shepherd from Bethlehem, was sent by His Father on a mission of mercy to us, His brothers and sisters. While here, Jesus took Satan’s own weapon, death, and used it to defeat Satan and remove Satan’s power over us. Jesus’ death on the cross set us free from the fear of death and empowered us with His eternal life. Jesus destroyed death; you are free from it (Hebrews 2:14-15). Jesus has given you His Spirit to be with you always to comfort and encourage you all the way to glory.
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:54-55
The bee of death stung Jesus and died, so now death can never sting any believer. You have nothing to fear with death! Jesus died and rose again to “free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (Hebrews 2:14-15 NIV) When we Christians depart this world, we leave as victors returning to our Lord and King (2 Corinthians 5:8, 1 Timothy 1:17).
Application
Have you gotten the news that you or someone you love has a terminal disease? In your grief, look to Jesus. As you navigate the journey ahead, call out to the One who has died your death and delivered you from the fear of what lies ahead (Psalm 18:28-36, Psalm 130:1-8).
Jesus loves you; He will carry you and those you love through this time of suffering (Isaiah 40:11). We might be frightened by disease and death, but when we look to Jesus, we see Him standing up for us, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore…” (Revelation 1:17-18).
Has someone you love died unexpectedly? Miscarriages, stillbirths, infant deaths, accidents, homicides, aneurysms, heart attacks, embolisms, and so much more take our loved ones from us suddenly every day. It is shocking and hard to accept such dramatic losses, but we can find comfort and courage in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
To comfort and encourage the Thessalonians believers who were grieving the loss of their loved ones, Paul wrote, “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Thessalonians 4:14). Jesus has defeated death, and all who “fall asleep” in Him are escorted into eternity by their Bridegroom of eternal love and life. Speak this message of hope in Jesus’ death and resurrection to your heart, friend, and encourage others with it.
Grieving is hard, perplexing, and distressing work, but if we carry in our hearts and minds the death of Christ, then we will experience and see His resurrection life manifested in us. On the cross, Jesus was crushed and destroyed so that you would be made whole and held secure for eternity. Jesus intimately knows your grief; He will see you through it.
Look to Jesus now. See that He lowered Himself all the way to death on a criminal’s cross to lift you, dear believer, higher. He has taken you out of the kingdom of death and seated you in heavenly places. Death and sorrow cannot defeat you because Jesus has overcome them for you. Look to Jesus and allow His sacrificial love to comfort you and carry you through your time of loss.
“For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10).
Question: How does looking to Jesus’ atoning death on the cross and His victorious resurrection encourage your heart when thinking of physical death?
Gary writes, “By knowing that Jesus defeated death, through His death and resurrection, so that we would not have to die. Physical death is with our body. Spiritual death does not occur, because Jesus destroyed it for all who believe, and we go straight to glory with God for all of eternity.“
Judy writes, “Dear Lord I pray that you help me to always keep my eyes focused on all that your son suffered for me that I may have salvation, and knowing that death is just the beginning of a new life, not the end. Help me to keep my trust in you in all of life and death. Amen.“
Larry writes, “It basically eliminates the worry, the fear, the apprehension, the blindness and the doubt that comes with the evil of death and sin! Jesus defeated death and we can rest in His arms forever!“
Mike L. writes, “As a believer thinking about this brings such joy to my heart, I am so looking forward to seeing Jesus face to face, without anything holding me back from worshiping Him with my whole being! I long for the day that I will no longer have to battle sin, just pure love for my Savior. Thank you, Jesus, that You put the fear of death to death by rising from the grave!“
Reprinted by permission from the Looking to Jesus study at www.settingcaptivesfree.com. SCF exists to help men and women find freedom in Christ through the gospel.