How To Escape Death?

We want to start off on a sombre note. Death is inescapable. Whether we are healthy, wealthy, wise or mighty, no one can escape this imminent event.

Some are spending millions of dollars on science and technology to reverse the ageing of their body. Yet, “all flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: the grass withereth, the flower fadeth” (Isa 40:6,7). “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement” (Heb 9:27).

But there was one Man in history who made an astounding claim: “No man taketh [my life] from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again” (John 10:10).

This is Jesus Christ of whom it is written, “the same was in the beginning with God” (John 1:2). He is uncreated, coequal with God, who came in the likeness of men into this sinful world. Of mankind it is written, “all have sinned” and “sin when it is finished bringeth forth death” (Rom 3:23, James 1:15). But of Christ it is written, “in him is no sin” (1 John 3:5). Sin, the root cause of death, was not found in him. Thus, by the glory of His nature and the glory of His sinless life, He could not die.

Men tried to destroy Him out of envy and hatred. They tried to cast Him down the hill (Luke 4:29), they sent soldiers to arrest Him (John 7:44), they tried to stone Him to death (John 10:31). But no one could do anything to Him before His hour was come.

When his hour was come, He told those who came to arrest Him, “this is your hour, and the power of darkness” (Luke 22:53). His enemies couldn’t overtake Him, but He would allow them to apprehend Him. He reprimanded the governor who thought it was in his authority to crucify Christ, saying, “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above” (John 19:11).

In a divine arrangement incomprehensible to man, they crucified Him, thinking that this would destroy Him. But He would not die due to intense sufferings, or the crucifixion. But when the time was come, He said, “Father into thy hands I commend my spirit:” and having said thus, he gave up the ghost (Luke 23:46). He was in complete control of when He should lay down His life. On the third day, He rose again from the dead. It was gloriously proclaimed that day – “He is not here, for He is risen as He said” (Matt 28:6).

Christ died on the cross for our sins, so that we can live through His death. Here, we present to you One, who mocked death by defeating death. When we confess our sins and trust in Jesus Christ for our salvation, we receive the same assurance of resurrection in Christ. We can then boldly look at the face of death and say, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Cor 15:55). Death is not the end for them who trust in the Lord. An endless life awaits them on the other shore.