Death is For Certain

In Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book: Mowgli, the man-cub, asks the animals what’s the most feared thing in the jungle. He’s told that when two animals meet on a narrow path that one must step aside and let the other pass. The animal that steps aside for no one would then be the most feared. Mowgli wants to know what kind of animal would that be? One tells him it’s an elephant. Another tells him it’s a lion. Finally, the wise old owl exclaims, “The most feared thing in the jungle is death. It steps aside for no one.” We find that statement to be so true. It doesn’t matter how physically strong, financially rich, fantastically popular or overwhelmingly powerful we are--death is an absolute truth for all of us No one is exempt from death.

Hebrews 9:27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,

Eccles. 7:2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart.

We do not know what the next five years hold for us, but we know for certain we will all face death in our future.

But with Jesus this was different. Since He was God in the flesh, death had to step aside for him. Luke 24:1-6 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright, the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!!!!

Like a coward steps aside for the brave, death cowered in the presence of the power of Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.

This time of year, we celebrate that death and resurrection of Jesus. His resurrection is the most important and crucial part of our faith. If the resurrection did not happen, then the claims of the New Testament are nothing more than a lie! “No resurrection, no Christianity.” Without the reality of the resurrection, our Bible is just a collection of good sayings and good advice. If there’s no resurrection, then there’s no life after death. If Jesus stayed in the grave, then so will we. If His work on earth ended at the cross, He can’t give eternal life to anyone. If there was no resurrection, then there’s no meaning in life.

But Jesus did rise from the grave and He is alive today. Because He is alive He has given us His salvation and if we repent of our sins and accept His salvation He gives us life ... EVERLASTING LIFE.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.