« April 11, 2006 | April 11, 2006 | April 11, 2006 »

Pastor's Page

Posted on April 11, 2006 ...

We usually think of death in a negative light. It naturally brings to mind sorrowful items like grief and separation. But in reality, death is a necessary part of life. In fact, we wouldn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t be alive without death! Cells are dying all the time in our bodies. And these are not random deaths ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äù they are programmed deaths for our own good.

Think about our hands. Each one has five fingers because the cells that used to live between them died way back when we were just embryos. If the death of these cells did not occur, our human development would go off course. You might say that if it were not for death, we would not even be born.

In addition, programmed cell death generates our skin?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s protective outer layer of dead cells. And when our immune system has finished wiping out an infection, the now-unnecessary white blood cells commit suicide in a very orderly fashion. This allows the inflammation caused by the infection to go down. Thus, our human bodies stay alive, in large part, because of death. Certain cells die because of the benefit this brings to the greater whole.

This week we remember the death of Jesus on Calvary?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s Cross. Jesus knew that his death would be a necessary part of God?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s plan to bring greater life to the world.

He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. Mark 8:31 NIV

This story goes on to say that Peter objected to Jesus?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ talk about the necessity of His suffering and death. We can understand his resistance to the idea that his Master would face this fate. But Jesus knew better. He knew that it was only through death that an even greater life could occur.

To some people, death as a means to a greater life may seem like foolishness. But to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18b NIV) This Friday we remember the death of Jesus. It is a day for dying. But there is a Sunday coming to bring us the possibility of new life, greater life, and eternal life! We will see you Sunday as we celebrate it together. Jay