By Yumri Taipodia
Death is the natural thing that everyone has to experience. It is a penalty for sin and to be feared. Biologically, death is a necessity for every creature yet human does not die like animals. It is a charitable for men to die gloriously either in fighting courageously or for the noble cause of society. Such death is noted as one of the special achievements and receives due honor by surviving near and dear ones.
Terminology: In Hebrew ‘Mawet, Mute’ denotes the expiry of one’s life, the end of a persons’ existence. It means body returns to dust (Gen. 3: 19) and the spirit returns to God (Eccl. 12: 7). In death ‘napes’ (soul) the very essence of life departs (Gen. 35: 18). In Greek, death is the end of living activity, closing of life span, destruction of existence even soul finds a place in the realm of death. It denotes that their names are living life less life. Ironically, there is a comfort in the realization of death. Greek counts it as an achievement in the person’s life.
Kind of Death: Two kind of death are:
Physical: Death is necessary as everybody is constituted to decay which is inescapable. It is a result of sin (Gen. 2: 17). Sin enters the world through Adam (Rom. 5: 12) and wages of sin is death. It is opposed to a spiritual state since inheritance of eternal life does not cancel in physical death. Mortality was the result of Adam’s sin, and the penalty includes both physical and spiritual aspects.
Spiritual: The death is a divine penalty (Rom. 6: 23) on due reward for sin. Death on result of sin is more than bodily death. It involves the whole man to die as totality of his being. Spiritual death is the expression of final death that sin inevitably brings. Unlike physical death it is not for everyone; it is only for those mortal sinners whom God decrees (Rom. 1: 32; 1 Jn 5: 16).
Death in OT: In Old Testament death signifies the final end of ones existence (2 Sam. 12: 13-15). YHWH’s relation to life is rich and theologically high in religious development. Normally, termination of life in old age is accepted and grave becomes collector of corpses. It came in the world through Eve and Adam. All men became sinners and worthy of death. This signifies death does not come from God conversely brought by Lucifer. Fallen angels’ death figure is a devilish.
Death in NT: Death limits the human life span and it is final adversary. There is nothing ‘natural’ about it and it is an ambiguity. For Paul, it is an enemy (1 Cor. 15: 54-57) but Jesus calls it as sleep (Mk 5: 39). It is like a merciful friend as it brings end to the pain of the people those who are in bad situations. Death is neither a major problem nor it hinders faith in God. Primary focus of Jesus’ teaching is Kingdom. Present life is not endless rather it is necessary to have decision for that Kingdom. Death has no place in the Kingdom since it was overcome by power of God who is God of living (Mk 12: 26-27). So, it is nothing to fear, only God is to be feared (Mt. 10: 28). Jesus moves toward death, predicts His death (Mk 8: 31) that portrays His control of events. Ultimate allegiance is owned by God, even that commitment leads to death (Mk 8: 35). Willingness to endure death is the supreme test of faith. For other, it may be an intruder which destroys everything when their life is going well. For Paul it is an enemy and not the part of creation plan (Rom. 5: 12ff). Death includes termination of bodily functions and living being fails to produce productive life as God intended to be.
Victory over death: Key feature of NT teaching on death is to emphasize on ‘life.’ The word ‘Nekros’ (death) is talking about resurrection. Though scripture records the reality of death but it fully focuses on eternal life. Christ imputes on Him in our human nature through death He destroys the Satanic power of death (Heb. 2: 14). Devils work is always subject to God’s authority (Job 2: 6) so Satan is not absolute disposer of death. Negation of life is in Jesus’ sphere since He puts an end to death. Through death, Christ defeated the Satan and washes our sin. Through death, Jesus died of sin once for all (Rom. 6: 10) and removes all walls which alienates human from God. Climax of Christ’s death was to deliver men from death. He died that men may live. It makes the believers to term it as sleeping rather than as dying (1 Thess. 4: 14). He bears death so those in Christ will transform. Christ’s victory over death through resurrection so death is no longer dominion (Rom. 6: 9). Resurrection is the triumphal event and the NT theology clings to it. That victory is made available to His people. Physical death is for everybody (1 Cor. 15: 26, Rev. 21: 4) but second death has no power over the believer (Rev. 2: 11, 20: 6).
Above study saws that Christ won the victory over death and from His sacrificial death the fountain of life flow. Death was not in the creation plan of God it was the intruder result of sin. Death includes not only human but the creation itself (Rom. 8: 20-21). Good News is that those who are bound by death are not beyond the grace. This death is destroyed through faith; participate in the death of Christ. Christ is the first born from the death (Col. 1: 18). Responding to the gospel enables the believers to experience the quality of eternal life here and now so impact of death is minimal. To embrace the gospel is to pass from death to life (Jn 3: 36; 5: 24). Jesus’ death is a conscious deed by means of which the eternal life becomes a possibility for His disciples (10: 17-18).
