I was talking to one of my good, Muslim friends this morning. Today is a major Muslim celebration called the Eid al Abha. Since he knows I am a novice he explained that it is the celebration to recognize the sacrificial lamb provided to Abraham to save his son Ishmael. While he was explaining this many families around us were literally killing sheep to prepare the family meal. Blood from the sheep was pouring down drains of the houses into the street in very noticeable streams (per the picture on this post).
After he finished explaining I shared our Christian version of the story of Isaac and how we see Abraham as the father of faith. We went on further to discuss Moses and spreading the blood of the lamb on the door post. Then I told him the story of when John the Baptist saw Jesus and called him. The Lamb of God takes away the sins of the world. And lastly, I briefly describe to him the Eucharist which is celebrated daily at a nearby Church called Saint Felix.
I imagined walking him into that church and pointing out various things. At most sanctuaries I’ve been to the architecture is the first nonverbal witness of the gospel.
As I walk in there’s a small font of water. Each person dips their finger in it and makes the sign of the cross to remind us our our baptism. When I do this I recite a simple prayer from Scripture, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me.” The shape of the room clearly points to and surrounds the center point. And at that center is a table. This is the table that represents the Last Supper between Jesus and his apostles. Each mass is an opportunity to do exactly what Jesus commanded when He said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” And above the table is a cross with a depiction of Jesus crucified. This is consistent throughout the whole world in Catholic Churches. Visit a handful soon and test my assumption. In every one you’ll find a table and a cross with a depiction of Jesus on it.
I ponder the irony. Today I can literally hear lambs being slaughtered and see blood in the streets. Every time I go to mass, I see a depiction of an execution, the Lamb of God brutally slaughtered. At first, it all seems kind of gruesome. A depiction of capital punishment front and center for all to see. Visitors and those with little context might think this is odd, or even be put off by it. Then comes the explanation from people like me as we fumble to ‘explain’ the cross. I practiced this in my head with all the things I have heard in my lifetime.
Well, He had to die to to pay for our sins…
He had to die to reconcile us to God…
He had to die to show us His love…
He had to die to glorify God the Father.
I’m sure all these statements are true. Then another one hit me. It reflects something that many might take for granted and perhaps others do not, no matter what background, faith, or perspective a person has.
He died to destroy death.
Many human beings take death for granted. But, it’s going to happen. We are all going to die. And many people cry “Carpe Diem” to make the most of life before it’s…over. We make our ‘bucket lists’ to experience all the things we’re worried will miss before we die. Think about the billions of dollars that are spent on people’s final wishes based on a simple, morbid part of human doctrine: Death.
We are all aware of it. But, we also seem to avoid thinking about. Who wants to go to a retirement home, the ICU wing at the local hospital, or a funeral? We avoid thinking and talking about death and build our temporary kingdoms filled with nice suburban homes, SUVs, recreational toys, lake houses, etc. And all of it is headed to the same destination: the ground. This could be as ashes, in a landfill, or some other sad display of decay and death. Ironic that one of the names for hell in the Bible referred to an ever-burning trash heap outside the city.
But, this was not the plan from the beginning. When God created Adam and Eve death was not a part of the plan. But He warned them if they ate of the forbidden tree they will ‘die’. Again that implies that if they don’t they will…LIVE FOREVER! Of course, when I was debating all this in college religion class we would hear skeptics retort: “See, they didn’t die after eating.” They were still there alive, breathing, naked, and ashamed, not dead. But, this is false logic. Because we take death for granted. We just assume after a long life, like everyone else we’ve known, Adam and Eve would have died and left the Garden to their kids and grandkids. Not so. If they had made a different choice they would have lived and NEVER died.
Indeed God was right…because of their betrayal, they did die. I’m not a biologist, nor do I understand much about human anatomy. But, clearly something shifted inside Adam and Eve’s body at the moment they ate the fruit. Perhaps their bodies began to decay, even just slightly. And then many years later that decay found it’s inevitable outcome. Here’s a verse we don’t memorize in Sunday school. But, perhaps it’s a simple scripture that might help us see the gospel in a very clear way…
Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died. (Gen 5:5)
Of course I used to spend more time debating how he lived as long as Yoda. I forgot to see this simple reality: Adam died. That’s the bad news. And before he died, his son Abel died, murdered by his brother. So, now we have death, hatred, jealousy, and murder. And every single human being is destined for…death. That bad news, however, is the back drop for the really good news.
You’ve probably see a billboard asking, “Do you know where you are going when you die?” I think perhaps we are asking the wrong question. How about this one: “Do you want your children to live after you die?” I’ve never seen that question on a billboard. We have seen endless commercials asking, “Do you want to live longer, prolong your life?” Of course many answer, “Sure!!” We often do everything we can to lengthen or better our earthly lives vs embrace suffering and prepare for life eternal. Healthcare advancements and treatments products abound. People might spend years in chemotherapy to fight cancer to hopefully gain months, weeks, even days of extended quality ‘life’ (or perhaps not so quality). What if the goal isn’t to ‘postpone death’ but to ‘destroy death’. And through death to experience our new last birthday into eternal life.
“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.” (Heb 2:14-15)
A life of slavery? That’s the curse we’ve inherited. Adam and Eve brought death into the world and gave a major foothold to the Devil who will be cast into a place of eternal death. But in the meantime Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Given all this, I think people in this world might be summed up into 3 basic approaches, mindsets, lifestyles, and practical responses to this problem of death. And these are not hard and fast categories. Perhaps any of us might land in any of the three at any given moment.
The first approach is to put some or all of our chips on the table and trust in Jesus to save. Some believe this will come through a simple prayer and a single conversion moment to give them that guarantee of eternal life. Some beg God’s mercy every day of their lives and hope that God will grant them the opportunity to share in His Kingdom. Anyone taking one of these paths is based on a belief that there is life after death. But this would not be possible without Jesus.
The next approach is like the first but based on a belief that there is some other way to obtain this life. Some believe there is another power that can destroy or overcome Death. This might include other major world religions who give a nod to Jesus or other prophets but ascribe their greatest loyalty to another figure.
The last approach is perhaps the most interesting and can attract the most amount of people from all walks of life. When people fall into this mindset they do everything they can to put death off and live the best life possible. They don’t ‘deny Jesus’ per se or other eternal questions. In fact, they might preach a message of tolerance for all beliefs, religions, practices, etc. Or perhaps they just don’t like to talk about religion at all and assume all of it is unknown. But, we can be sure they believe in one thing: death. And this belief leads them to spend great amounts of money and effort to provide the longest lifespan at the greatest quality they can for them, their children, and anyone they care about. Ironically, if they don’t believe that the Devil or hell exists, there’s not much reason to continue the conversation. There’s no enemy to defeat. There’s no point to the cross. Again, I’m talking about this as if they are “other people.” But I think anyone can easily fall into this mindset practically, including me.
Telling others who have this approach to life that Jesus “died for their sins” doesn’t sit well. “My sins!?!? How dare you judge me!” they might say. Telling them that the good news is found in having a relationship with God doesn’t mean much. “I have plenty of fulfilling relationships. I don’t know if there even is a God. And if there is it’s not relevant to me.” Telling them how much Jesus loves them doesn’t affect them. “Ok…thanks…” they might say.
But, if you told them you found the actual fountain of youth, they’d be listening. If you told them you found the cure for cancer they’d be all ears. If you offered them the winning lottery ticket so they could knock off everything on the Forbes Top 50 places in the world they’d likely do a cart wheel.
This reminds me of an interesting Expedia commercial with Ewan McGregor. In it he says…
Stuff…we love stuff…and there’s some really great stuff out there! (Looking at a brand new car). But, I doubt any of us will look back on our lives and think ‘I wish I had gotten a sportier SUV, bought an even thinner TV, or found a trendier scent, wish I had discovered a crunchier chip, found a lighter light beer, or had a smarter smart phone.’ Do you think any of us will look back on our lives and regret the things we didn’t buy? (Dramatic pause) Or the places we didn’t go?
Expedia Super Bowl Commercial 2021
This Expedia commercial has a very ironic message. It assumes we are all going to die. It assumes that there are things worth regret and things not worth regret. It assumes we will have those regrets at the end of our lives. And the best answer to cure this potential pain of regret? The best answer Expedia has to the promise of death is…(wait for it)… to book a trip!?!? “Yessir…step right up folks…before it’s too late and the process of decay and death prevents us from seeing these amazing places. No need to wonder about the God of the Universe who fashioned these places Himself.” Forgive my poke at 21st century advertising and Obi Wan Kenobi. But, what an interesting counter to the billboard, “Do you know where are you going to go after you die?” According to Expedia, the answer is clear: “there’s no where to go…so buy your discount tickets now.”
I don’t know much about commercials. But, if you are going to spend six million dollars on a 30-second ad I’m sure they studied their target audience. It’s people who can afford a lot of stuff. It’s people that believe they are going to die. It’s people who don’t think there’s anything after death…or at least nothing as exciting as the beach Ewan McGregor is on. And it’s a person that is not likely to understand or appreciate the cross at the front of my church with a depiction of Jesus hanging on it.
Jesus died to destroy death. This reminds me of a verse that inspired one of my favorite songs…
I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
1 Corinthians 15:50-54
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 Cor 15:50-57)
My mind wanders and I do an imaginary walk back through the sanctuary. I reflect on the elements and what they mean for life. We need water to live. And I don’t think it’s a coincidence that water is such a key element in God’s Big Story from the waters the Spirit hovered over in creation, to the waters parted for Moses, to the waters that Jesus was baptized in, and more. We need food to live. And I don’t think it’s a coincidence that food is a such a key element in God’s Big Story from the fruit in the garden, to the Passover Lamb in Egypt, to the Lord’s Supper the night before his death on the cross and more. And the only way to live is for Jesus to put death to death. And I don’t think it’s a coincidence that death is such a key element in God’s Big Story from Adam and Eve and God’s warning, to the first murder of Cain, to the flood where millions perished, to the firstborn in Egypt, to the children under two years old in Bethlehem, to Lazarus being raised from the dead, and more. Unless Death is defeated none of us can live.
That’s the cross. That’s what it means. That’s the gift. That’s the good news. Some are booking tickets on Expedia and might accidentally miss the greatest trip ever. I hope we can all get better at telling the good news of: Life! Thank you Jesus!