The Shadow of Death
“Jesus said unto her, ‘I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die’” (John 11:25-26).
The news came unexpectedly, the prognosis was bleak, Jim had only a couple of months to live. We had previously mourned together at the death of my grandfather and then at the death of Jim’s father. He had lots of questions about Scripture, and we had engaged in many long conversations about the Bible over the intervening years. Now it was Jim who was facing that enemy that awaits all of us – death (Hebrews 9:27).
The following Sunday, I made a trip back home to visit with Jim. I arrived at the ER just a few minutes after the ambulance and found myself sitting beside his bed in the ER. Soon enough, the questions began. After a few minutes, I found an opening in the conversation and turned to the heart of the matter. What do you really believe about Jesus? That is the heart of the matter.
Jesus says here that those who believe in Him will never die. Though we may face physical death, that death will be swallowed up in life that will never end.
“For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:53-58).
In His resurrection, Jesus defeated death for all who would follow Him. That’s Good News, news that a world desperately needs to hear.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil” (Psalm 23:4).
I find it interesting that the psalmist wrote not of death, or the valley of death, but the valley of the shadow of death. Shadows can be scary, but they are temporary and have no substance of their own. One of the definitions of shadow is an attenuated (lessened or weakened) form. For the follower of Jesus, death is just a shadow of its former self -- it has been defeated in the Resurrection.
By Jesse Smith
The news came unexpectedly, the prognosis was bleak, Jim had only a couple of months to live. We had previously mourned together at the death of my grandfather and then at the death of Jim’s father. He had lots of questions about Scripture, and we had engaged in many long conversations about the Bible over the intervening years. Now it was Jim who was facing that enemy that awaits all of us – death (Hebrews 9:27).
The following Sunday, I made a trip back home to visit with Jim. I arrived at the ER just a few minutes after the ambulance and found myself sitting beside his bed in the ER. Soon enough, the questions began. After a few minutes, I found an opening in the conversation and turned to the heart of the matter. What do you really believe about Jesus? That is the heart of the matter.
Jesus says here that those who believe in Him will never die. Though we may face physical death, that death will be swallowed up in life that will never end.
“For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:53-58).
In His resurrection, Jesus defeated death for all who would follow Him. That’s Good News, news that a world desperately needs to hear.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil” (Psalm 23:4).
I find it interesting that the psalmist wrote not of death, or the valley of death, but the valley of the shadow of death. Shadows can be scary, but they are temporary and have no substance of their own. One of the definitions of shadow is an attenuated (lessened or weakened) form. For the follower of Jesus, death is just a shadow of its former self -- it has been defeated in the Resurrection.
By Jesse Smith
Posted in Facing Fear
Recent
Archive
2022
January
New Year's Day 2022All Things NewA New NormalA Renewed MindA New MissionA New BeginningSpring is Coming...God's Not DeadHis Presence As I Pray With Other BelieversHis Presence As I Fill My Heart and Mind with His WordHis Presence As I WorshipHis Presence As I WriteHim AloneGoodbyesOur Friend and So Much MoreTrust Your Gut...The Flooding of the Holy SpritLiving By the SpiritDon't Just Stand ThereThe Futility of Human EffortThe Will of God for YouThe Internal Battle for ControlEvery Good Tree Bears Good FruitAchieving Victory Over SinIlluminating Properties of SnowSearching
February
MapsThe AdvocatesPainting the PictureThree In OneFebruary Scripture Memory VerseWelcome to the Book of Acts!A Growing HeartThere's Something You Need to Understand!Let's Flip a Coin - Or Do You Have a Better Idea?Are We There Yet?Growing in the ChallengesA Day to RememberA Historical RealityA Life TransformedA Message that Convicts and SavesA Gospel that GathersPain with a PurposeThe Early Church - AccountableThe Early Church - God Living In UsThe Early Church - BoldnessThe Early Church - GenerosityThe Early Church - ServingThe IntroductionThe Starting Lineup
March
On the DefenseNot in My House!We Have a Barn Burner!Drop the Rock!Scripture Memory Verse for MarchThe Glory of God's RedemptionSalvation Comes from GodEncountering ChristChanged Hearts and LivesCompleting the Unfinished WorkPsalm 131Something Came UpUnoffendableSpeaking Our LanguageTo Love or Not to LoveShake It UpPsalm 131Sola GratiaFreed by GraceAmazed by GraceScandalous GraceEvidence of GraceWhat God Has GivenThe Travel PlannerWhat Makes You Curious?Strengthened by Other BelieversImposters Exposed
April
A Farewell to EphesusScripture Memory Verse for AprilHappy EndingsSomething You Need to Know About PaulAlmostBlank PageSuper ChristianThe Prince of PeaceA Special CrossMore Than an Empty TombTwo Things to RememberResurrection LifeWhat We Wear MattersA New LifeProgress ReportGospel GrowthPraying for the Global ChurchA Powerful Prayer GuideDelivered from Darkness
No Comments