In Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, the villain Davy Jones approaches some frightened sailors on a ship and asks them all the same question, "Do you fear death?" For those who do, he offers a deal. They can have immortality if they join his crew and work forever on his ship, the Flying Dutchman. Those who accept, however, inevitably become monsters or lose their identity altogether as they meld into the ship's hull. The ugly, harsh life is the price for escaping death.
By portraying this mythical situation, the film highlights a real concern for all people: the inevitability of death. It is certainly natural to fear death and want to avoid it for as long as possible. We may avoid impending death or even thoughts of death for a while, but in the end, we all know that one day we will die.
The fact of our mortality can and often does lead us to fear even while death is far off. Even though I'm relatively young and healthy, and I live in a stable environment, there are times where I feel quite fearful about facing the end of my life some day. As a Christian, however, I have a hope in Christ. Not only will I live again after I die, but in this life while I have yet to experience death, I do not even need to fear death because Christ understands death, He overcame death, and He promises us a resurrection through Him.
A recent study of Hebrews led me to read chapter 2 verses 14 and 15: "Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself [Jesus] likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery." (ESV) The first element of comfort in this message comes from the reminder that Christ took on human flesh. Jesus, as our savior, experienced the same pain and suffering that we do. Jesus hungered and thirsted. He grew fatigued. He wept at the death of a friend, and ultimately, he died a gruesome and shameful death Himself. He "partook of the same things" because we needed a redeemer who, as Hebrews notes later, could "sympathize with our weaknesses." I can trust that my Lord understands the approach of death and the pain and suffering involved with it because he experienced all of those things.
If Jesus had only experienced death, and had not risen from the grave, we would have no hope. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:19, "If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied." Some who do not believe in Christ's resurrection might say that Christ's death was to set example of love. Unfortunately, an example of good character only offers a hope for things we may achieve in this life. It offers no hope beyond death. Paul continues in verse 20, however, that "in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." The victory over death could only come, as Hebrews says, "through death." Christ died not only to set an example of love with His actions in this life but to conquer death itself.
Christ's resurrection certainly displayed His love and power, and it is more than a display. The resurrection of Jesus promises Christians that they will also be resurrected in the end. Paul again writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:14, "For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep." The resurrection is not only a spiritual reality - our souls dead in sin becoming alive to God - but a physical reality. Our bodies will lay in the grave for a while, but not forever, just as Jesus did not remain in the grave. Those who believe in Christ are promised both the application of His righteousness for the forgiveness of their sins and the application of His resurrection for a joyful life in the world to come.
When reading Hebrews 2, I became curious about the words "lifelong slavery." Usually I hear the metaphor of slavery applied to life in sin, but the context of the passage spoke more about Christ's victory over death. I decided to investigate what a reliable commentator, Matthew Henry, had to say, and his words fill my heart with encouragement:
Christ became man, and died, to deliver them from those perplexities of soul, by letting them know that death is not only a conquered enemy, but a reconciled friend, not sent to hurt the soul, or separate it from the love of God, but to put an end to all their grievances and complaints, and to give them a passage to eternal life and blessedness; so that to them death is not now in the hand of Satan, but in the hand of Christ-not Satan's servant, but Christ's servant-has not hell following it, but heaven to all who are in Christ.
In this world, we may see efforts to distract us from the reality of death. Some may do everything in their power to extend their life in this world or even avoid even thinking of death, but ultimately we will all face a final day. Brothers and sisters, we do not need to fear death. Immortality in this world would mean an endless life in sin and pain. We can have a much better hope in a savior who understands our mortality and suffering, who died and rose again, and promises us a new life in Him.
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