“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15).
The human family has may fears. None is more haunting than thanatophobia, the fear of death. God alone knows how many billions of people have had and currently do have a phobia of this universal fact of life.
God’s love and tenderness are unmistakable in the inspired sentence above. Like a loving parent addressing a child’s fear of the dark, God has done everything possible to minimize the terrors of death which haunt and horrify His creation.
Just as Aaron the high priest had to intervene to stop the plague which was consuming the complaining Israelites in Numbers 16:41-50, our High Priest had to make a flesh-and-blood intervention so we could be freed from the horrific bondage of thanatophobia.
Our High Priest has neutralized death’s sting (1 Corinthians 15:55) and transformed death into a door which opens into the Christian’s eternal victory—immortality (1 Corinthians 15:50-54). Christ’s conquest of death and Hades (Revelation 1:18) provides you with sufficient equipment to rid your heart and mind of thanatophobia.
Oh, the victory found in Jesus, our merciful and faithful High Priest!
