**Sip Saturday is written by our Saturday morning contributor, - A beautifully gifted Christian author who seeks to honor the Trinity in her writing. She hopes that her words will encourage women to draw closer to God, whether that is through her fantasy series or her weekly devotionals.
Cornerstone Scripture:
"But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone."
-Hebrews 2:9 ESV
Photo by Chris Liu.
Did you know that the Chinese have a taboo around death? They consider speaking of death, mentioning death in conversation, or even attending a funeral to be bad luck. It is so terrible that even engaged or pregnant women are encouraged to avoid attending funerals or being around the dead. This also means that many Chinese avoid writing wills or becoming body donors. And who can blame them?
Death is not something easy to face. Whether it is the passing of a loved one or the possibility of death from illness, it makes sense that people avoid wanting to face their own mortality. I know exactly how it feels to face this fear, as I have had many illnesses which have caused me to look at my own mortality. Because of such scares, I have a new appreciation for life and for what Jesus had to face.
Before you assume that Jesus faced death willingly (which he did), I think it's important to remember what the agony and stress of his upcoming doom did to him.
"And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground."-Luke 22:44 ESV
Jesus knew what he had to suffer: being mocked, whipped, tortured, beat, wear a crown of thorns, carry his own cross, have nails through his hands and feet, be abandoned by most of his disciples, and be erected on a cross, where he died of asphyxiation. Most of all, Jesus would lose the presence of his Heavenly Father as God turned away from him to put upon his shoulders the righteous wrath and sin of the world. For facing death, Jesus deserves glory and honor. And us? We don't deserve his forgiveness—that's why it's called grace.
Death comes to us all, and it is frightening. But we can have peace knowing that Jesus has promised us eternal life (John 3:16). Death is not the end for us. Instead, it is a beginning, in which we live forever with God. Eventually, our bodies will be replaced, and all will be made perfect (1 Corinthians 15:35-42). This is the hope that Christians have, that others do not. Although death can be a time of grief, it can also be a time of joy as our Heavenly Father welcomes us to his kingdom at last.
Let's pray. Dear Lord, help us not to fear death, but instead trust you for what you have prepared for us. Let us live in honor of you, looking forward to the day when you say 'Well done, good and faithful servant; come into my kingdom.' Amen.
Thank you for the reminder of what's in store for us because Jesus laid down his life, even though it hurt him physically, emotionally, and spiritually. He submitted to God's direction.