Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Oct/92

Contributor - Wim Meijer

Title - Believe in communion with the church of all ages and places

Topic - Death of Christ

Is death a friend?

Presently we experience a shift in the public opinion on death and dying. Death used to be a dreadful event - the Grim Reaper. Today it has become an "option" for the living. An option for those who have come to the conclusion that for one reason or another life is no longer worth living. Today people decide to die. There has always been suicide. But this is different. Today people gather around the bed of someone whom they love to be witness of his/her "Final Exit". Even a whole nation may be following the process, as in the case of Nancy B.

Meanwhile, the Bible still calls death an "enemy" (I Cor. 15:26), and not a friend. In the Apostles' Creed we confess to believe in Jesus Christ, who "was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell". The story which forms the basis for this confession does not tell us about someone who died "with dignity", but whose death was accompanied by terror and agony. Death was certainly an enemy for Jesus Christ. And that is exactly why His death is such a great blessing for us.

The significance of Jesus' death

The Heidelberg Catechism teaches us in Q. 40 that Jesus had to die, because "only the death of God's son could pay for our sin". We hear in these words an echo of what God has spoken in paradise: In the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die (Gen. 2:17). The apostle Paul puts it this way: "the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). But why can't we pay for our sins with our own death? Because it would require an eternal death to pay off the huge debt of sin which we have with the Lord. And in that way we would never experience the joy of being free from debt. Only the death of Jesus can serve as a ransom, by which our debt is paid off, and we are set free.

The death of Jesus had the character of a punishment for sin. Therefore there was no dignity in His dying. He was under the curse of God. But in this way "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us" (Gal. 3:13). He was condemned by the Father, but therefore there is now "no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1).

Even His burial was part of bearing the curse in our place. The catechism is very brief on this. "His burial testifies that He really died." But this testimony had already been given by the Roman authorities. His burial is a further consequence of the curse which Jesus had taken upon himself. Through faith we become a new creature. But our bodies are not renewed right away. They need to die first and to decay. And so we will inherit an incorruptible body. The grave is the place of decay and corruption. Jesus humbled himself even unto the grave. To me this means that burying is the proper way of taking care of the dead bodies of our loved ones. The Bible never speaks favourably about burning dead bodies. If we have followed Christ in our lives, let us also follow Him in our death, and into the grave.

The pains of hell

We confess: "He descended into hell." These words have resulted into a great diversity of interpretations. I follow the interpretation of Calvin and of the Heidelberg Catechism. In His sufferings and in His death Jesus experienced the pains of hell. Sometimes it is called "outer darkness", and also "the lake of fire". The reality of hell is clearly attested in the Bible. It is the place of God's unrestrained wrath. Here on earth the wrath of God is restrained, even over those who are disobedient and godless. Jesus experienced the full wrath of God. He especially experienced hell when He was rejected by the earth, and forsaken by heaven during the three hours of darkness at Golgotha. And because of this all those who believe in Him can say: "Christ my Lord ... has delivered me from the anguish and torment of hell" (Heidelberg Catechism, Q. 44). Beautiful Saviour! ... Glory and honour, praise adoration, now and for evermore be Thine!

Please click the "Back" button of your browser to return to previous page.