“I do not fear death”

Dear Friends,

Jesus did not leave His gleaming white throne, come all the way down from the halls of eternity to this cursed earth, take on a humble human form, and purchase you with His own blood so you could be…kinda sorta free.

Unfinished business

I started down this line of inquiry when I was writing a series on fear a few months ago. Though I didn’t mention them during that series, these two fear-related verses…

[Heb 2:14-15 KJV] 14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through FEAR OF DEATH were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

…grabbed my attention and never let go. So help me God, I’ll address them today and free myself of this burden!

But you’re not actually afraid of death…right?

It might be tempting to read of the “fear of death” in our study passage (Heb 2:14-15, quoted above) and yawn, because you already do dangerous things without much thought of death. Some of us skydive. Most of us get on an airplane at least once in our lives. Even getting behind the wheel of a car is risking death.

And then you have the the valiant Peter, undaunted by the band of armed officers, slicing off Malchus’s ear (John 18:10) in defense of Jesus. He wasn’t afraid of death…right?

Crucifixion is a different story

We see a very different reaction when, during Jesus’s trial, bystanders question Peter about his connection with Jesus. He sidesteps and swears (Matthew 26:72) rather than standing and supporting. Why the 180? Well, in the garden he was risking death in battle (painful, but probably quick and glorious), but in the high priest’s palace, he was risking death by crucifixion (far more painful, much slower, and unspeakably humiliating).

See the difference? Hebrews 2:14-15 is not talking about your garden variety deliverance. It’s not limited to finding the courage to drive down the freeway to work, or to conduct oneself honorably in physical battle (though it could include those). We’re talking about something much more grand and majestic, my friends.

Why Peter’s backstory is so important

If we back up a bit, the connection between Hebrews 2:14-15 and the story of Peter becomes even stronger. In Matthew 16, Jesus foretells His own execution and resurrection, and Peter makes it clear that he is not on board. In light of Hebrews 2:14-15, we could say that Peter is unwittingly opposing Jesus’s plan to destroy the devil. And lo and behold, that is almost exactly how Jesus reacts to Peter’s protests:

[Mat 16:23 KJV] 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get THEE BEHIND ME, SATAN: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Do you see how Peter’s long-standing resistance to Jesus’s master plan may have contributed to his utter failure at the high priest’s palace?

But wait, there’s more!

[Luk 22:31-34 KJV] 31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, SATAN HATH DESIRED [to have] YOU, that he may sift [you] as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. 34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that THOU SHALT THRICE DENY THAT THOU KNOWEST ME.

Again, this seems to be an outworking of Hebrews 2:14-15. Peter is the inmate, the fear of death is the chain that binds him, and Satan is the jailor.

Notice also Jesus’s specific prayer for Peter: “that thy faith fail not”. This seems to be another parallel to Hebrews 2:14-15; although it doesn’t explicitly mention faith, it talks about being delivered from fear, which seems like an allusion to faith. If fear of death is the chain, then faith in Jesus’s death, resurrection and entrance into paradise is the key to freedom. Or, in visual form:

“Death is gain” rather than “kill me now”

Our passage unfolded like a flower when I realized it was stating a proportional relationship in binary terms. It’s not stating that anyone who doesn’t believe in the resurrection is living in constant, almost crippling anxiety about dying in the next 5 minutes. But it IS teaching that the more you embrace the hope of eternal life, based on your belief in the literal resurrection of Jesus Christ, the less you will be afraid of death, the more you will see death as gain (Philippians 1:21), and the more willing you will be to stand strong when faced with all the fury of hell.

This deliverance goes far beyond the “Kill me now” attitude that we all occasionally experience during tough times. This deliverance lets us see death as not merely an end to suffering, but an entrance into paradise. When we half-jokingly say “Kill me now”, we aren’t talking about crucifixion; we’re talking about something quick and painless, aren’t we? We can say “kill me now” all we want, but when faced with a slow and painful death as the price of doing right, we’ll actually choose life (and moral failure).

But because the deliverance I’m talking about focuses on resurrection, on the untainted paradise to be had in the next life, it can withstand any amount of suffering. It can motivate you to do what is right no matter how many fear-darts from the wicked are coming at you:

[Eph 6:16 KJV] 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And note, faith is again mentioned as the protection against Satanic attack; if you’re not sure if Satanic attack is under consideration, see the nearby verse Ephesians 6:12.

Peter being freer

On the Day of Pentecost, the multitude had come together to witness the Holy Ghost’s miraculous, instantaneous, individualized translation of the apostles’ speech. Problem: The last time this multitude came together, they killed Jesus. The last time this multitude came together, Peter folded. The last time this multitude came together, an imprisoned Peter wept at his chains.

No longer.

[Act 2:13 KJV] 13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

And that was all it took to ignite the converted Peter. The time had come for him to “strengthen the brethren”. Instead of hiding in a corner, instead of denying he even knew Jesus, Peter came out swinging against error.

The world was not ready for this.

[Act 2:14-15 KJV] 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all [ye] that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is [but] the third hour of the day.

…

[Act 2:23 KJV] 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, YE HAVE TAKEN, AND BY WICKED HANDS HAVE CRUCIFIED AND SLAIN:

Now THAT’S freedom.

In the ensuing narrative, there is plenty more evidence of a massive change in Peter’s outlook on life, of his glorious deliverance from fear of death. Peter’s not huddling next to the fire anymore; he’s bringing the heat.

But remember, the threat of a horrible death was not only still present, it was intensified by Jesus’s own foretelling of Peter’s martyrdom in the last few verses of John’s gospel. So what happened to Peter between his time in the high priest’s palace and the Day of Pentecost?

Answer: the crucified and risen Jesus met him.

Peter on being freer

Now check out Peter’s own writings and see if they don’t perfectly jive with the foregoing:

[1Pe 3:14-18 KJV] 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy [are ye]: and BE NOT AFRAID OF THEIR TERROR, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For [it is] better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 18 FOR CHRIST ALSO HATH ONCE SUFFERED FOR SINS, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, BEING PUT TO DEATH IN THE FLESH, BUT QUICKENED BY THE SPIRIT:

[1Pe 4:12-14 KJV] 12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But REJOICE, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, WHEN HIS GLORY SHALL BE REVEALED, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, HAPPY [are ye]; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

[1Pe 5:7-8 KJV] 7 CASTING ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom RESIST STEADFAST IN THE FAITH, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Jesus via John on being freer

John received a vision from Jesus and, boy, was it dynamite. I’m going to quote a few verses that are relevant to the topic at hand:

[Rev 2:8-10 KJV] 8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, WHICH WAS DEAD, AND IS ALIVE; 9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan. 10 FEAR NONE OF THOSE THINGS WHICH THOU SHALT SUFFER: BEHOLD THE DEVIL SHALL CAST [SOME] OF YOU INTO PRISON, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: BE THOU FAITHFUL unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

As alluded to by my capitalization, we see once again that belief in Jesus’s death and resurrection give us freedom from the fear of death that Satan would bind us with, even if he puts us in physical chains. He can bind our feet and hands but he cannot bind our hearts.

Hallelujah!

Freedom to be the new you

Satan doesn’t have to have power over you. You don’t have to be afraid of dying, dear child of God. You may see death as a release from your suffering, and I can understand that, but death means so much more to the Christian. It’s not just a release from suffering; it’s the glorious reception of a long-awaited inheritance. Jesus, Peter, post-Biblical martyrs such as Polycarp and Justin Martyr, et al., all show us the way.

Death…whether by COVID, an angry mob, a murderer, an airplane crash, or an old-fashioned storm…whether quick, painless and dignified or long, torturous and humiliating…is nothing to be afraid of, brothers and sisters. Whatever horrible fate Satan thrusts in your face, think of the resurrection.

This will help you to be the real you, “the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Eph 4:24)…

…and to be free!

God bless,

TFOTF

Links:

(1) Epic fail

Appendix: Peter reloaded

[Act 2:36 KJV] 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same JESUS, WHOM YE HAVE CRUCIFIED, both Lord and Christ.

[Act 3:13-15 KJV] 13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; WHOM YE DELIVERED UP, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let [him] go. 14 But YE DENIED THE HOLY ONE and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15 And KILLED THE PRINCE OF LIFE, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

[Act 4:3 KJV] 3 And they laid hands on them, and put [them] in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

[Act 4:10-11 KJV] 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH, WHOM YE CRUCIFIED, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 THIS IS THE STONE WHICH WAS SET AT NOUGHT OF YOU BUILDERS, which is become the head of the corner.

[Act 4:13 KJV] 13 Now when they saw the BOLDNESS OF PETER and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

[Act 4:19-20 KJV] 19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

[Act 5:18 KJV] 18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

[Act 5:29-30 KJV] 29 Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up JESUS, WHOM YE SLEW AND HANGED ON A TREE.

[Act 5:40-41 KJV] 40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and BEATEN [them], they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, REJOICING that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

[Act 12:4, 11 KJV] 4 And when he had apprehended him, he put [him] in prison, and delivered [him] to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. … 11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and [from] all the expectation of the people of the Jews.