Thursday, August 21, 2008

Noble death

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).

What makes death noble? When is death a pointless tragedy? These are questions as old as time.

The first death happened when Cain murdered his brother Abel. It was a pointless, tragic death. Cain was jealous of his brother. Abel had a good relationship with God; Cain did not. So Cain invited his brother to join him on a walk, and while they were alone together, Cain violently ended his brother’s life.

Since that terrible day, people have been killing each other for every sort of reason—fear, anger, greed, or national pride. Sometimes we kill in self-defense. Sometimes we kill to exact revenge. Sometimes we kill for the sake of justice. Sometimes we kill to end conflict and bring about peace.

With so many reasons given for killing, people often find themselves arguing—was that use of lethal force truly justified? Was that death noble or pointless? Was death the only solution to that problem?

In mankind’s long and bloody history, there was one death that was unquestionably noble. There was one death that was absolutely necessary. That death happened 2,000 years ago on the cross of Calvary. The Son of God came to wage war against sin, death and all the powers of darkness. He suffered unimaginable pain as He fought with Satan and his minions. But although He won the victory, Jesus’ life bled from His body leaving Him dead. His life was given as the ultimate sacrifice to win our freedom from corruption. Only God’s love for sinful humanity could lead to such a selfless act. Only God’s Son could achieve that stunning result. The death of Christ was both noble and essential.

Blessedly, there is even more. Jesus rose from the grave alive—rose to give proof positive of His victory. And His resurrection from the grave gives us hope as we visit the graves of our loved ones. Because Jesus lives, so shall those who followed Him. No matter how or when death comes, the dead in Christ will live and love forever.

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