Death: Defeated
Recently, a friend from high school passed away unexpectedly. We had lost touch over the years, connected only by Facebook, liking the occasional photo or update. He was a very kind person, quiet but outgoing. He loved the Lord, and based on what I saw in recent years, continued to serve Him faithfully, heavily involved in his church and local community. He was married and had kids. The news about his death was limited to a brief, but touching obituary, yet there’s no denying that the impact of his death was felt by many.
Another unexpected death recently made the news. A basketball player, a known legend, passed away in a horrific accident along with several others, including his daughter. He was known for being a phenom on the court, a husband and father off the court, leaving behind an incredible legacy.
In death, we who are left behind often recount the lives of those we have lost. Our memories become the only thing connecting us with the life that was lived and we seek ways to memorialize those lest we forget. When my grandmother passed away last year, it got me thinking.
There are few things of absolute certainty on this green-ish earth, but death is one of them. For each of us, as humans, death is inevitable. Death doesn’t discriminate, it doesn’t care if you are rich or poor, tall or short, young or old, it is a reality that someday we will die. We see it take the lives of the innocent, the guilty, our loved ones, strangers we have never seen or spoken to. It doesn’t weigh your impact on others, it doesn’t care if you have unfulfilled dreams. Death is a certainty and we face it every day.
And yet, death is full of uncertainty. For most, death is a huge, giant question mark. When will it happen? How will it happen? What happens after? Why is it so unfair? As with many things that are full of uncertainty, the idea of death can be terrifying, cause anxiety and leave us feeling hopeless.
Death is powerful; it literally takes a life. But there is something, or I should say, someone, who is more powerful than death. And there are some pretty cool examples throughout the Bible that give us a tiny glimpse of God’s power over death.
Elijah and the widow’s son
Elijah was hiding out because King Ahab was literally just the worst. In fact, 1 Kings 16:30 says that “Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him.”
God had instructed Elijah to hide, eventually leading him to the home of a widow who would give him food and water. Here’s where a cool miracle involving flour and oil happens. But that’s not my point. Soon after, the woman’s son becomes sick and dies. 1 Kings 17:17 says, “And his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him.”
She basically asks Elijah, “What do you have against me?” If I were her, I’d be pretty upset too. She lets in a prophet of God, feeds him and shelters him, probably putting her whole household in danger (again, King Ahab was crazy), and for her trouble her son dies from an illness.
Elijah says “Give me your son” and then carries him upstairs to his own room and bed. Then he cries out to God, asking him to “let this child’s life come into him again.”
“And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah.” (v. 22). And life came back into the child and he revived. (full story: 1 Kings 17:17–24)
Jesus and the ruler’s daughter
Jesus was teaching when a ruler came to him and said, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” (Matthew 9:18) Jesus goes with him to his house where there is a crowd and flute players “making a commotion.” He tells them, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.”
The crowd’s reaction is to laugh, which kind of makes sense. The ruler likely had several physicians and countless others there to check and see if she was still alive or not. To them and the crowd, she was indeed dead. And to have someone come and say, “Nah, she’s just sleeping” probably seemed like a ridiculous thing to say.
But Jesus, of course, ignores their laughter and goes in. He takes her by the hand and she arises.
Jesus and Lazarus
This is one of those Bible stories that you hear about from a young age. Jesus’ friend Lazarus falls ill (John 11:1). His two sisters go to Jesus and tell him that Lazarus is sick. Jesus replies, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Now, if Jesus had said that to me, I would have interpreted that statement as, “Lazarus will not die.” Words coming from the mouth of Jesus. So when Jesus returns, and Lazarus has been in the tomb for four days (which I also interpret to mean that he’s been dead for at least four days), I can sympathize when Martha says to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” But she goes on to say, “But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” (v. 22) I don’t know if I’d be able to say that, I’d be too busy pointing accusatorially at Jesus.
Jesus responds with, “Your brother will rise again.”
Martha thinks he is talking about something else, a resurrection on the last day. Jesus, however, then goes on to say an extremely well-known statement:
“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (v25-26)
Mary says YES.
Jesus then asks where Lazarus was laid, and when he sees the tomb where Lazarus is, he weeps. He then has them remove the stone (much to their concern about the odor that might come out). He prays to God the Father (I love that he says, “I know that you always hear me”) and then loudly says, “Lazarus, come out.” And Lazarus comes out.
What the WHAT.
Okay, if I had witnessed that, I would FREAK OUT. I kind of wish there were a few more versus devoted to the reactions of people after seeing Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, stroll out of the tomb, linen cloths and all. Actually, if I had witnessed any of those examples, my mind would be blown.
As a note, there is some debate as to whether revive and resurrect (which is what happened to Jesus) are the same thing or different. By definition, they are not the same, but similar. The best way to look at it is like this:
Jesus was resurrected.
In his death, he was raised back to life.
Once resurrected, death could no longer touch him.
The widow’s son, the ruler’s daughter and Lazarus were revived.
In their deaths, they were brought back to life.
However, death still took them a second time while they lived on the earth.
The Bible has many examples of people who were raised back to life, but only one story and one individual who was resurrected: Jesus.
The promise doesn’t end with Jesus’ resurrection, though. God, in his love and mercy toward us, through the resurrection of his son, gives us a way to eternal life. Which means that someday, if we put our hope and salvation in him, we will be resurrected too and spend eternity in the presence of our Savior.
So… what now?
It’s okay to mourn the loss of loved ones. Death is sad, and often leaves behind brokenness, confusion and even anger. We cannot understand the “why”, and that’s okay. But we can also rejoice and celebrate the legacy left behind.
We can know that there is no fear in death. That ultimately, despite death’s best efforts to take permanently, God is more powerful than death. When our faith is in Christ, our future is secure and death is defeated.