Jesus lived a life so distinct from the culture that it got Him killed. By His life, we see we must cast aside the things of this world, no matter the cost. The world might imprison us. They might kill us. So what? They killed Jesus, but that wasn’t the end of the story. Jesus wasn’t just another man. He was and is the very Son of God (John 3:16).
For those who deny everything for the sake of Jesus, for those who eschew cultural demands and norms for the sake of Christ, death is not the end of us either. Jesus lived the sinless life we could never live, He was crucified to pay a debt we never could, and He rose from the grave to provide an eternal life we could never otherwise attain.
We don’t have to wonder what it would have been like to be a follower of Jesus 2,000 years ago. We can follow Him today. Most won’t because the cost is too great. The shadow of the cross looms over the life of every disciple, but no shadow exists without a light on the other side of it. The glory of the resurrected Christ shines forth, beckoning all who believe to enter into the presence of the Holy God. No matter what life throws at us, it’s never enough to separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:38-39). Even if the worst should happen, death is not the end for you and me. It marks the beginning of a life we can scarcely imagine.
Most people, including many Christians, fear death. I’m probably not going to love the circumstances that lead to my demise. But I have no fear of death itself because I recognize death is not the end. There is nothing I want more than to see Jesus face-to-face and live in His presence forever. We’re in the dress rehearsal phase of eternal life. We are in His presence, but in our humanness, we cannot see Him fully.
Death is merely the gateway to experience Jesus in all His fullness. We will behold the face of God and not die, although it is hard for me to wrap my head around ever seeing Him and not falling on my face in fear of His holiness. He wants us to experience life to the full extent (John 10:10), and that won’t happen until we cross over from death to life. Without the resurrection of our King, that transition would not be possible.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in sorrow over the horrific torture of Jesus after His arrest. As if crucifixion wasn’t terrible enough, the beatings He endured on our behalf are nauseating. But if Jesus had not died as a man, He could never have walked out of that grave as a man. His resurrection proved death is not the end for those who place their faith in Him (John 5:24). Weep over the death of Christ, but only for a moment. Rejoice forever in His resurrection. Of all the so-called religious leaders of history, only Jesus survives. Only Jesus is God.
As you ponder His cross, don’t neglect to marvel at His resurrection. He suffered because of His intense love for you. Death is not the end because of His great mercy. Don’t waste a moment of this life because His resurrection proves His words are true. He said He was coming back, and He will (John 14:1-3). Wait for Him in eager anticipation (Matthew 25:1-13). Praise Him for all He has done and for all He is. Our God is truly an awesome God (Deuteronomy 7:21; Psalm 99:1-3). He is the beginning and the end (Revelation 22:13), and as we were on His mind from the beginning, we shall be with Him until the end. This is His promise to those who love Him (Matthew 28:19-20; Hebrews 13:5; 1 John 5:11-13).