What you’ll probably hear at church this Easter weekend (but I hope you don’t)

I’m not sure about you, but this time of year always brought up questions. At least one child in my Sunday school class would ask a specific question, that is, “Why did Jesus have to die?” It’s a good question, right? Have you ever thought about it? My Sunday school teacher, through a big grin, would likely reply, “Well, sweety, so we can go to heaven when we die.” Wow! Sweet deal! Jesus dies, and I get to go to heaven.

 

But that never did it for me. It basically makes me want to give up on life. Why bother, right?

 

I’ve never read Paul saying that. Or I never read Jesus saying that. Unless you take “eternal life” to mean “heaven” (which I don’t), then, Jesus and Paul barely even speak about heaven.

 

1 John 3 states, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (v. 8b TNIV). What?!? That’s not what my Sunday school teacher told that kid (or me, for that matter). I remember hearing someone answer their son’s question regarding this, “Well, to fix the world’s problems.” I find that answer much more biblical. I mean, what’s the devil’s work – death. Jesus destroys death, but not only death at the end of life, but death during life, too.

 

Feel free to check me on this, but I think what I’m saying is biblical.

 

Now, the follow up question I have to the child’s question in Sunday school is, “Why was Jesus raised from the dead?” To which, interestingly, I heard, “Well, sweety, so we can go to heaven when we die.” Really? That’s it? Have we really boiled everything Christ did that weekend to “heaven when we die?” First, it’s incredibly individualistic. Second, it’s incredibly unbiblical. As 1 Corinthians 15 states,

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a human being. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But in this order: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all (vv. 20-28).

 

Correct me if I’m wrong, but that sounds a lot more (powerful) than just “heaven when we die.” Jesus defeats death. He was raised from the dead so that we may be raised from the dead at the resurrection of the dead (in the future).

 

So, I hope that you don’t hear the “heaven when we die” line this weekend. Instead, I hope you hear that Christ died and raised to destroy death, to fix the problems of the world, and he was raised so that we may be raised. “For he has put everything under his feet.” It’s powerful. It’s exciting! So, little Sunday school kid, don’t give up on your life and this world because, through Christ, God has destroyed death.