Death is an end – but is not the end
We all die – our human body comes to an end. But our Christian hope is that this is not the end. There is life beyond our earthly experience. Throughout the Bible we are assured of this. In his encounter with Mary following the death of Lazarus, Jesus reassures her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live…’ (John 11:17-27). And later, in John’s account of the last supper, Jesus tells his disciples, ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?’ (John 14:1-7).
Christians believe that physical death opens the way to a new life in God’s presence. We can have confidence in a bigger story, because Jesus has gone through it before us.
Christ’s death and resurrection
All four of the Gospel accounts are clear that Jesus actually died. This was physical death after which his body was sealed in a stone tomb. And all four Gospels recount his resurrection, witnessed first by Mary Magdalene, then by his disciples. Through Christ’s resurrection, the power of death was defeated, and through faith we are assured that we too will share in Christ’s resurrection life (Romans 15:12-22). We will be with him in his Father’s house.
Suffering is a part of life
In Genesis 1, we have a picture of a world created good, without suffering or pain, but we live now in a world where suffering is part of life. Christians are not exempt – like everyone else, we are subject to tragedy, disease and death. Paul talks of our bodies as being like clay jars or earthly tents (In 2 Corinthians 4 and 5), fragile and not permanent. When afflicted by suffering, how should we respond? We might focus on the suffering, allowing ourselves to be overcome by its pain and despair.
But our Christian faith calls us to raise our sights, looking to Jesus (Hebrews 12:2,3), to the eternal hope that is before us, and not lose heart (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:31-39), not even the pain of bereavement. God is with us, loving us, walking alongside us in the midst of our suffering (Psalm 22, Psalm 23).
The hope of a new heaven and earth
John’s vision in the book of Revelation points us towards God’s new heaven and earth, where death and mourning, crying and pain will be no more (Revelation 21:1-4). The confusion, sorrow and even anger which we feel in response to death will not be part of our new life in God’s presence.
In the midst of grief it can feel like we’re back at the cross, yet our Christian faith gives us hope and assurance that this is not the end. Through Jesus, God promises us life beyond our earthly experience.
For further resources on Grief and Bereavement, please see ‘Never the Same’ – a suite of resources for school leaders supporting children and families.