The Keys Of Death

The Keys of Death

As for me, God will redeem my life. He will snatch me from the power of the grave.

Psalm 49:15

I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.

Revelation 1:18

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.”

John 11:25

Have you ever locked yourself out of your house or locked the keys in your car? You wonder, Where did I put that extra key? Because having a key means you have access—it allows you to get in and out.

So what does Jesus mean when he says, “I hold the keys of death and the grave”? Jesus is saying, I’m in charge of death. So you don’t have to fear physical death. I have the keys in my hand to that bitter, dark place of the dead. I hold the keys because I died and I defeated death. I came back with the keys in my hand. I’m going to be alive forever, so I can open the gates to death for those who don’t want me. And I can shut the gates to death and open heaven for those who love me and want to live with me after they die.

What does this truth mean for us? It means that when that person we love dies, it may have surprised us, but it didn’t surprise God. Even though it seems to us that people we love die too soon, we can trust that God is in control and has perfect timing. Knowing that Jesus himself controls life and death means that when we face the death of someone we love, we don’t have to surrender that person to an unknown, uncaring nothingness. We can rest, confident that everyone who knows Jesus is safely under his care. Jesus holds the keys. And as we face our own deaths, we can be comforted by hearing what Jesus is saying: Don’t be afraid. I’m in control here. Death cannot catch me off guard or sneak up on me. I hold the keys.

DISCUSSION STARTERS

What do you have keys for? What do you wish you had keys for?

What do you think it means that Jesus holds the keys to death? Does this bring comfort or raise questions?

How does it give you comfort and courage to know that Jesus is in charge of life and death?