The Apoptosis of Life: Dying to Live
Easter Sunday Worship
Luke 9:23-24
Imagine you died and came back to life – how would you feel?
For some, it may be joy, while for others, especially those who are suffering, it may not feel like a gift – unless that life they returned to was healthy, free, and full.
The Bible teaches us that no one escapes death, and that no one escapes resurrection. In Hebrews 9, we all die once, and then face judgment. Resurrection is not optional.
So the truths we are faced with in the Bible are that:
We will all die.
We will all live again.
What does the Bible say about resurrection? According to John 5:28-29, there are two resurrections:
Resurrection to life
Resurrection to judgment
The Bible tells us that, left to our own devices, we face judgment. John 11:25-26 tells us the path towards resurrection to life is opened through the Jesus. Without the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is no resurrection for us.
Even further, Jesus tells us in Luke 9:23-26 to take up your cross daily. To take up the cross doesn’t mean simply to endure hardships. In the first century, the cross was a symbol of death. So, to take up your cross means to die to yourself, and in the Christian life, to die is to live.
Even biology reflects this. In apoptosis, cells in the body undergoes voluntary suicide and must die for the body to develop properly. Cancer is the opposite – when cells refuse to die and grows uncontrolled, cancer eventually grows to destroy the entire body.
So, what does it look like to take up your cross daily? It is not necessary to look so dramatic but to choose to put down a little bit of yourself daily. We can take a step back and give up our pride even when convinced we are right. We can swallow our words when angry. We can yield so others may go first. We can extend grace in small moments like when driving.
To take the cross up practically is daily surrender. In 1 Corinthians 15:31, Paul says that he “dies every day.” This is not an action that we take once, but it is a daily choice that we make every day to surrender a little bit of our self.
Another exam Pastor Daniel shared is the life through the life of James and Rosetta Hall, who were medical missionaries who left their life in New York to serve as missionaries in Korea. Despite the early passing of James Hall as well as one of their children, Rosetta continued her ministry and carried her cross to the bitter end, and because of her life and surrender, many people lived.
How is this life possible?
Because Jesus first died for us so that we might live. The Bible says if we die with Him, we too will live with Him and that this will lead us to resurrection to life with the Lord on that final day.
Reflection Questions:
What was your main takeaways from this sermon or this past Passion week?
What would it look like for me to “die daily” in my everyday life?
What is one specific area of my life where I struggle to “die to myself”?
