The Sting of Death

As a pastor I have been called upon many times to bring comfort to families as they were grieving the loss of a loved one. Sometimes the loss has been sudden and unexpected, while other times it has been expected and even welcomed. Regardless if the death is expected or unexpected there is always heartbreak. In my own personal experiences of having to say goodbye to loved ones, and having observed so many over the years who have walked this road, death is never easily accepted because it is so painful. Death is so painful because it brings separation. However, the good news for Christians is that this separation is only temporary. The Apostle John records these comforting words of Jesus: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11:25-26). Jesus died and was buried but He conquered death. He lives and because He lives the sting of death has been taken away.

Several years ago I came across the following story, The Bee Sting, by Les Christie:

While on vacation, a family was driving along in their car, windows rolled down, enjoying the warm breeze of the sunny day. All of a sudden, a big black bee flew in the window and started buzzing around inside the car. A little girl, highly allergic to bee stings, cringes in the back seat. If she is stung, she could die within an hour.

“Oh, Daddy,” she squeals in terror. “It’s a bee! It’s going to sting me!” The father pulls the car over to a stop, and reaches back to try to catch the bee. Buzzing around toward him, the bee bumps against the front windshield where the father traps it in his fist.

Holding it in his closed hand, the father waits for the inevitable. The bee stings the father’s hand and in pain, the father lets go of the bee. The bee is loose in the car again. The little girl again panics, “Daddy, it’s going to sting me!”

The father gently says, “No honey, he’s not going to sting you now. Look at my hand.” The bee’s stinger was there in his hand.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55). Jesus says to us, “Look at My hands.” He has Satan’s sting, the sting of death, the sting of sin, the sting of deceit. Jesus has all those stingers in His hands. Jesus reduced Satan to a big black bee that’s lost its stinger—all Satan can do is buzz. That’s the victory that Jesus won for you.<sup>1

1</sup> Rice, Wayne. Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks (El Cajun, CA: Youth Specialties, 1994), 30-31.