Last summer my teenage sons encouraged me to watch ALL the Marvel Avenger movies. So I squandered away my summer watching superhero movies that had a surprising impact on me.

(SPOILER ALERT) In the movies we meet Thanos (his name is Greek, thought to be a shortened name forAthanasios, meaning “immortal” or from Greek mythology, the god Thanatos who took people to the underworld.) Thanos gathered 6 stones that basically gave him all the power in the universe and with that power, the ability to send people into oblivion with the snap of his fingers, and he does so. With the snap of his finger, 50% of life in the universe flakes away into death. It was heart-wrenching.

In Endgame all the superheroes remaining devised a risky plan to undo Thanos’ work and destroy him. After what seemed like an eternity of fighting and struggle, in one last hopeless moment, Ironman puts on the gauntlet with the stones, snap his fingers with his last ounce of strength, and done…Thanos, the inevitable picture of Death, flakes away into oblivion. 

It was a glorious moment… And then I remembered it was just a movie. 

I thought to myself, “if I weren’t a Christian and didn’t have the hope of God, I’d be so depressed that it was just a movie, that there are no real superheroes fighting against evil and death.”

Why do we love movies like these? Why do most people love the movies that struggle with good versus evil, and feel triumphant when the hero is victorious? Because deep in ourselves, we know we need a hero. We hope for a savior. 

After the final movie I remembered something my husband asked me to read 18 years ago, before we were even dating. It was John Owen’s introduction to The Death of Death in the Death of Christ. Honestly, the most notable thing that has stuck with me all these years is that title—The Death of Death. I hadn’t considered that death could die, but that would be awesome if it did.

Most people, even Christians, don’t look forward to the process of our bodies dying. We may be at peace with what happens after death, but death is painful for the one dying as well as for those who are left behind. We all know it’s coming. We all know it’s inevitable. For many, it is the worst thing about life. 

Now that we are all depressed, let me share some hope, some truth from God’s word that I have been looking at as I pondered the topic of Jesus Christ’s death on this Good Friday, the death of Death, and my own death:

Jesus’ Death

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ³ For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.⁶ Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. ⁸ Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.

Acts 2:23-24 “this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.”

Jesus’ death—It happened, and then he came back to life. Why does this matter? For you and me to have our broken relationship with God fixed—reconciled—we have to address our sin. But there is nothing we, in ourselves, can do about our sin! We are all doomed to death and an eternity in hell. BUT, God, being rich in love (because he is love 1 John 4:7-9) made a way to mend our relationship through Jesus Christ. Jesus lived perfectly, without sin. Then, taking our punishment for our sinfulness upon himself, he died in our place on a cross, to pay for the sins of the world. He died for you and me—2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Because of his humanity, Jesus was able to die in our place.  Because of his deity, he could conquer death. This is what Good Friday commemorates. It is good news for humanity.

Death’s Death

2 Timothy 1:9-10 ⁹ He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. ¹⁰ This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

James 1:13-15 explains the birth of death and then reminds us in verses 16-17 that only what is good comes from God. “¹³ No one undergoing a trial should say, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. ¹⁵ Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 

Death’s death – Death exists because of sin, and us humans did that. Romans 6:23 explains that ^“…the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus defeats death and wins the victory for us. 1 Corinthians 15:54-56 announces, ^54 “When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place:

Death has been swallowed up in victory. 
⁵⁵ Where, death, is your victory?
Where, death, is your sting? 

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”

My Death

Matthew 10:28-31 ²⁸ Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹ Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. ³⁰ But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. ³¹ So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Hebrews 9:27-28 ²⁷ And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment— ²⁸ so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but^[a] to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

2 Corinthians 5: 1-2 For we know that if our earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands. ² Indeed, we groan in this tent, desiring to put on our heavenly dwelling,

My death—It’s coming. Somehow and sometime. But just like I prepare for retirement and I prepare for next month, I also prepare for my eternity. I have to make decisions now about what I believe, so I can secure my eternity with God.

The existence of God is most reasonable to me when I consider the other options. And a purposeful Creator who is involved in my life and orders all its details is also reasonable to me when I think about the questions humans are prone to ask about existence, purpose, good, and evil. I believe that purposeful creator is the God of the Bible.

So, I have invested my life learning, knowing, and living for the God of the Bible. I have confessed my need for God, believe that God through Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection gives me forgiveness from sin and the hope of an eternity with him after I die. Even now, I enjoy a relationship with God, peace, wisdom, and so much more.

If you want to know how to have a relationship with Jesus Christ and make plans for your future, see the Scriptures at the end of this post. Push away the distractions. Take time to consider Jesus Christ.

You’re going to die; you can’t defeat death. I’m going to die; I can’t defeat death. Ironman isn’t real; he can’t defeat death. We need a real Savior. He is in the world today. His name is Jesus Christ.

This Easter I pray you take hold of the life Jesus offers through his victory over death!

Scriptures and thoughts on how to begin your relationship with Jesus Christ:

• Believe that God exists, that he created the world and you, and that he desires a relationship with you. The created world is evidence of God. There is a design to God’s plan that works when we trust him.

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:26-27 ²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” ²⁷ So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.

Psalm 139:13-14 For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.¹⁴ I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well.

Psalm 19:1¹ The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.² Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge.

Romans 1:20 ²⁰ For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse. 

Hebrews 11: 1-3, 6 Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. ² For by this our ancestors were approved. ³ By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.⁶ Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

• Admit you are a sinner and need a savior. We naturally don’t trust God and don’t want to follow his design. Instead, we sin by trusting other created sinners or ourselves. It never has gone well; you can look around at our world and see proof of that.

Genesis 3:3-7 3 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?” 

² The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. ³ But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”

⁴ “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman.⁵ “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ⁶ The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. ⁷ Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Romans 1:25 ²⁵ They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.

Romans 3:23 ²³ For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23 ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

• Believe that Jesus died on the cross for you and that he rose again, defeating death and providing salvation from an eternity separated from God.

John 3:16 ¹⁶ For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8 ⁸ But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

• Repent (turn away) from your sins and selfishness and turn to God, entrusting the leadership of your life into his care.

Acts 2:38 ³⁸ Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

• Pray and tell God what you understand about your need for him. Ask for forgiveness. Ask him to be your savior. Invite him into your life. The result is his Spirit coming into your life and beginning to change you. 

Romans 10:9 ⁹ If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

• Once you pray and become a Christian, tell someone you know who a Christian about your decision is so they can encourage you along. If you don’t know anyone who is a Christian, contact a Bible believing church in your area. Start learning about your savior by going to a church that teaches the Bible, and by reading the bible (get a hard copy and download a bible app. I like the YouVersion app.) And keep praying; prayer is the way you talk to God.

Hebrews 10:23-25 ²³ Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

2 Timothy 3:16 ¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God^[a] and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Philippians 4:6-7 ⁶ Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.