DON'T BE AFRAID
Easter

Dr. Richard J. Henderson April 11, 2004

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I Corinthians 15: 19-26
Luke 24: 1-12
Psalm 118: 14-24

Introduction

We have trouble dealing with the reality of death. We will go to extravagant extremes to avoid thinking about our own death. W. H. Auden wrote somewhere that none of us can picture his one's own death. It's certainly very difficult.

We act as if by exercising enough, eating the right foods, taking vitamins, going for regular checkups, and always wearing our seatbelts, we can live forever. Nobody wants to face the reality of death.

Someone has said that our grandparents talked about death all the time, but they never mentioned sex in polite society. We talk about sex endlessly, but we're afraid to talk about death. If you want to be left alone at a party, just bring up the topic of death and dying. "You know, I've been thinking a lot about my own death. Have you ever given that much thought?" People will look at their watches, or hold up their glasses and suddenly decide they need a refill. Pretty soon you'll be standing alone. People actively avoid thinking about death.

A woman once wrote me a note saying that she appreciated my ministry, and then she wrote, "If and when I die, I'd like you to do my funeral." If!! I don't know if she's aware, but so far the odds are running in the area of 100%!!

I

Several years ago Ernest Becker won the Pulitzer Prize for his book, The Denial of Death. In it he detailed the ways in which we try to avoid death. It's a very intellectual explanation of why we're afraid to deal with death. We see it everyday, though, in the world around us.

I think of the Hollywood actress in her 40's who disappeared for a while. Now she looks younger than ever, apparently through a lot of surgery and physical conditioning, and she has taken a boyfriend in his twenties. This is avoiding the realities of aging and death. It's the Dick Clark syndrome: try to keep looking like you're thirty until you die. We will go to elaborate extremes to deny the reality of death.

II

Christians have a radically different viewpoint toward death. For us death is the enemy that has been conquered. It is the dreaded one that has been tamed. We don't need to be afraid. God's Son faced death, defeated it, and was raised to new life. Because he lives we shall live too. The resurrection of Jesus gives us hope in a way that nothing else can.

The apostle Paul writes in I Thessalonians, "We want you to be certain, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, to make sure that you do not grieve about them, like other people who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and that it will be the same for those who have died in Jesus: God will bring them with him."

Easter means that we have the promise of life beyond death. Yes, we mourn those we have lost; but we don't grieve as people without hope. We are sad about what we have lost in this world, but we also hold onto the promise of "a glad heavenly reunion." Death still hurts, but its real sting is gone because we have hope in Christ's rising from the dead.

III

When we meet people who are not afraid of death, we see people who are truly free. I've had the opportunity to sit with people in the last moments of their lives. I have been with people terrified to die, and with those who face it with a calm sadness. No one is anxious to go, but many aren't afraid either.

As one person said, "I have no regrets. I've made mistakes, but I've been forgiven. It will be harder for my family than it is for me. I've had a good life; I am thankful for what I've had."

The power of that freedom is impressive: to face death, not willingly, but not with fear either.

Usually, the people who are able to approach death like that are the ones who have relied on their faith and developed it over a lifetime. Then when they need it most, they have a firm foundation to stand on. They are able to trust God with their death because they have trusted God with their lives all along.

IV

Paul was one of those people who weren't afraid of death. In fact he wrote once of his ambivalence about death. He said I have much to do here, but I also long to be with God. I'm torn between life and death - both have their advantages.

Paul was so certain of God's love and power in his life that he could face anything the world threw at him. He once listed what he had been through - arrests, beatings, shipwrecks, and imprisonment - he faced it all. He wasn't afraid because he trusted in God and he knew he was working for a higher purpose. He had enormous freedom.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was another person who wasn't afraid of death. He had to deal with threats all the time. His home was attacked when he was a young man with a family. He was stabbed in a department store. He received death threats all the time.

On the night before he was murdered, King spoke about facing death.

He said, "Like anybody, I would like to have a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And he's allowed me to go up to the top of the mountain. And I've looked over, and I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the Promised Land. So I'm happy tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."

Because Dr. King wasn't afraid of death, he was free to work for freedom. He could be happy, even on the verge of death.

V

Because of Jesus' resurrection we can face death and not be afraid. Today we celebrate that Jesus overcame death. He was dead, and was raised up from death. He promises that we will be with him.

The power of the resurrection is seen in his disciples' lives. When Jesus was arrested the disciples disappeared. When the trial began they were nowhere to be seen. The New Testament doesn't mention any of the disciples at the cross except John. Peter denied he even knew Jesus, three different times.

They made a dramatic change, though, when they learned of Jesus' resurrection. They came together again. They saw Jesus and spoke to him. Then they were stronger than they had ever been. They weren't afraid to die. They were bold. Tradition tells us that most of them were killed as martyrs for what they believed. They died unafraid of death, because they had seen Jesus raised from the dead.

Conclusion

Clint Tidwell is a pastor in a small Southern town. In his congregation is an eccentric, eighty-year-old man who owns and publishes the local newspaper. He thinks Tidwell is a great preacher, so he publishes a summary of his sermon in the paper every Monday. Tidwell says he doesn't always recognize the sermon he wrote in the summary the publisher heard.

On Monday morning after Easter Tidwell ambled out to get the newspaper. He had wondered how his Easter sermon might be covered. Even before he got to the paper at the end of the driveway he could see part of the headline. It was in two-inch letters - the size they use when war is declared.

He opened the paper - the headline read, "Tidwell Claims Jesus Christ Rose From The Dead." Tidwell felt a flush come over him. What are the neighbors going to say? Everyone in town is going to be talking about this headline.

They should be. Jesus rose from the dead and conquered death. That means life is different for all of us. Christ has set us free. We can face death, because death has lost its sting. It's an amazing claim.

Amen.

©Richard J. Henderson 2004