September 26, 2016 My beloved daughter-in-law died from leukemia
February 5, 2019 (the day after MY birthday), a granddaughter, just shy of her 20th birthday, died. Her heart just stopped.
April 8, 2019 (yea, same year, 2 months later, a well beloved grandson (a daughter’s firstborn) was killed in a double hit and run.
March 1, 2021, just 2 weeks shy of her 21st birthday, another granddaughter, along with her gal pal were killed in a car crash.
There have been other such occurrences all through my life, yet these four affected me more than any of them. I ended up hospitalized with Broken Heart Syndrome when my Daughter-in-law died. I can’t imagine how her husband – my son – felt.
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Death is an inevitable part of the human experience, and yet, it remains one of the greatest fears that people grapple with throughout their lives. It is the great unknown, a mystery that even the wisest minds cannot fully unravel. For many, the fear of death is not just about the end of life itself, but about what comes after, if anything at all. This fear can be paralyzing, overwhelming, and deeply isolating, but the teachings of Jesus offer a message of hope, peace, and assurance that can transform how we face it.
Jesus understood the human condition deeply. He knew the struggles we face, the pain we endure, and the questions that arise in the hearts of those who fear death. His words, often delivered in moments of great tenderness and care, speak directly to the heart of this fear, offering comfort and strength. In the Gospel of John, He says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:1-2). In this passage, Jesus reassures His disciples and all who follow Him, that death is not the end. It is merely a transition, a passage into something greater, something eternal.
The fear of death often arises from the feeling of uncertainty about what happens when our time on earth comes to an end. Jesus, however, offers a perspective that transforms this fear. His resurrection from the dead, witnessed by His followers, serves as a definitive answer to the question of life after death. His triumph over death was not only a physical event but a spiritual proclamation. He showed us that death has no ultimate power over the believer. He offers eternal life, a life that continues beyond the grave, a life that is not bound by the limitations of our earthly existence. This promise of eternal life is not just a future hope—it is a present reality that begins the moment we place our trust in Him.
The apostle Paul, in his letters to the early Christian communities, also speaks of the hope that believers have in the face of death. In 1 Corinthians 15:54-55, he writes, “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” Paul echoes the words of Jesus, declaring that death no longer holds the same power it once did. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, the sting of death is removed for those who follow Him. Death is no longer a feared finality but a doorway to eternal life in God’s presence.
For those who believe in Jesus, the fear of death can be transformed into a hope that far exceeds the limitations of earthly understanding. This hope is not based on wishful thinking or abstract philosophy, but on the concrete reality of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. He is the firstfruits of the resurrection, the proof that death does not have the final word. Through His resurrection, He promises that all who believe in Him will also be raised to new life.
This doesn’t mean that the process of dying is easy or without fear. It is natural to feel sadness, pain, and even fear as we face the end of our earthly journey. Jesus Himself, in the Garden of Gethsemane, experienced deep sorrow and anguish in the face of His impending death. He prayed, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (Mark 14:34). Yet, even in His fear, Jesus chose to trust in His Father’s plan, submitting Himself to God’s will. His obedience to the Father in the face of death is a model for us. It shows us that it is okay to be afraid, but it is also an invitation to place that fear in God’s hands, trusting that He is with us in our pain, and that He has a plan for our lives that is greater than death itself.
In the face of death, Jesus offers us comfort, not by promising to remove the pain or the fear entirely, but by walking with us through it. He promises to never leave or forsake us (Matthew 28:20), to be our comforter in the hardest of times. This presence of Christ in our lives is a source of peace that the world cannot offer. It is a peace that transcends understanding, a peace that calms the deepest fears of the heart.
Furthermore, the teachings of Jesus invite us to consider our lives in the light of eternity. In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus encourages His followers to store up treasures in heaven, rather than on earth. He asks, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” This teaching reminds us that life on earth is fleeting and temporary, but the love and relationship we have with God are eternal. Death is not an end to that relationship; it is a continuation of it in the fullness of God’s presence. When we live with eternity in mind, death loses much of its sting, because we begin to see it not as a terrifying end, but as the next step into an eternal, unbroken communion with God.
In the early Christian church, death was not feared in the same way it is today. Christians viewed death as a passage to eternal life, and they often spoke of it as “falling asleep” in the Lord. The apostle Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:14, “For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” The early Christians believed that death was not something to be feared, but rather something to be embraced with hope, because it was a reunion with God.
This perspective on death allows believers to face it with a sense of peace and even victory. The fear of death is rooted in uncertainty, but with Christ, we have the assurance of eternal life. We have the promise of a future where pain, suffering, and death no longer have any power. This hope, grounded in the reality of Jesus’ resurrection, enables us to live each day with purpose, knowing that our lives have eternal significance. We do not have to live in fear of what comes next, because Jesus has already secured our place in His eternal Kingdom.
Ultimately, the fear of death is an invitation to draw nearer to God. It calls us to examine the way we live and to embrace the eternal life that Jesus offers. As we face our own mortality, we are reminded that life is a precious gift, and it is in surrendering our fear and our trust to God that we find true peace. Just as Jesus walked through the darkest valley of death and emerged victorious, so too will we, through Him, find the strength to face whatever lies ahead. The fear of death is not the end of the story—it is the beginning of a new chapter, one in which we live forever with the One who conquered death for us all.
Because of Jesus – Death is temporary!
I hope this message blessed you. If so, please leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you.
S. H. & A.M.C.H. 2025
The image is AI generated on chatgpt.