The Death of Death in the Death of Christ is Far More Comforting Than a Covid Cure
But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying,
“I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”
And again,
“I will put my trust in him.”
And again,
“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself 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. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. (ESV) - Hebrews 2:9–16
Beloved, the world around us is paralyzed in fear. In one sense it’s not unwarranted (but we’ll see ultimately it is misplaced). The Corona Virus might kill you. But if it isn’t the Corona Virus it will be something else. In fact there is a justifiable rising concern that this single focused attention on one disease has actually caused many more deaths from other health issues left untreated. That’s somewhat a side issue but it does illustrate how fear wrongly placed leads to irrational decisions.
John Owen’s monumental work on the death of Christ (Death of Death in the Death of Christ) was a treatise addressing the problem of universalism. But his title reminds us that death, a result of the fall, is only remedied by the blood of Christ. Apart from Christ there is no hope that awaits us when we close our eyes in death. Hebrews 9 is clear that Christ alone is the mediator not merely of a new option but a New Covenant that replaces the shadow and copy of the Old Covenant. His death alone redeems the elect from transgressions committed under the Old Covenant (Heb 9:15). Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection is exclusively our only hope (John 14:6, Acts 4:12).
Jesus warned about misplaced fear. In Matthew 10:28 he instructs his disciples with these words:
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (ESV)
This of course is in the context of persecution not sickness. The persecution comes from the proclamation of the truth. Fearing men rather than God is functional apostasy. Declaring your trust in a risen Savior makes no sense if you are unwilling to die for this truth. Such love for this world will quickly put you in the category of Demas who was “in love with this present world” (II Tim. 4:10). Jesus’ call to the disciples and to us is to fear him alone (Prov. 1:7). Because of Christ’s work on the cross this isn’t an abject fear of God but the respect of a child to their heavenly Father who has redeemed us. So when we are fearful, we are right to cry out, Abba Father, no longer having the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear because we’ve received the Spirit of adoption as sons (Rom 8:15)! Hallelujah!
Yes, death will come to all (apart from the Lord’s return) – of this you can be sure. Do you find yourself enslaved to the fear of death? Covid, cancer, persecution, a plane crash may kill you. Christ died and rose again – this frees us from enslavement to this fear. Beloved, we think these times are unusual. In fact, the seeming calm we were enjoying was merely a blip historically and geographically in this fallen world. The events of this past year should awaken us to our true hope found in Christ alone. The world should see a boldness in us that doesn’t represent carelessness but confidence in our risen Savior. The writer of Hebrews reminds us of this,
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (ESV) Hebrews 9:27 – 28
This hope is why we sing! (click here to listen to the full version of In Christ Alone):
No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me; From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand: Till He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
A world with misplaced fear may be watching – do they see you eagerly waiting for Him or enslaved in fear of death? Let’s pray for one another, encourage one another, and point each other to the cross so that we magnify Christ to this fearful world.