The death of Jesus was the death of all deaths. It split rocks, darkened the earth, caused temple curtains to rip open, and raised the dead. It divided time into B.C. and A.D.

It was because of Jesus’ death that His followers cared for plague victims in the early centuries while non-believers fled from friends and family who contracted disease.

Because of his death hundreds of thousands faced hardship to tell the story of the death and resurrection around the globe.

Over the past three hundred years, hospitals and health clinics emerged in distant lands through the sacrifice of many who were affected by the death of this man-God on a hill outside of Jerusalem.

The death of Jesus, His subsequent resurrection, and His ascension to the Father not only makes His death the death of all deaths but His resurrection places the stamp of authenticity on His life as being the life of all lives.

Reality finds ground in the death and resurrection of Jesus.

During the seven days of the third week of Advent from December 16-22, I want to focus on the meaning life receives because the Son of God was willing to die for me. His final garden prayer sounds as if He could have called thousands of angels and made a different choice—He didn’t. He agreed to follow the will of God and face a horrific death.

I hate the fact that Jesus had to die—yet, I am glad He did.

In the mind of God, the death of Jesus was the absolute only way to restore the Garden relationship of God to humankind. There was no other way. Perfect God had to united with sinful man through the death of a perfect God-man—Jesus.

My assumption is—had Jesus refused death, I would now be an active member in the army of Satan. That thought alone should send me to my knees offering prayers of thanksgiving to God and Jesus.

Over these seven days, I want to pray for men and women of all nations and of all languages who have yet to kneel before Jesus and receive the power of His death blood to forgive their sins. His crucifixion was for every resident of every nation and every tribe.

Wouldn’t it be worthy of time spent during the Christmas season to envision God and man working together to fill the rivers of the world with people submitting to Jesus by imitating His death, burial, and resurrection, within the waters of baptism?

I find myself with a loss of words to describe my gratitude. What words would you use to thank the God of heaven for the death of all deaths?

Stay tuned. – Gary J. Sorrells