The Christian gospel has at its centre a wonderful paradox: the idea that the way to receive life in its fullest and most undiluted form is to die. This is not necessarily a physical death - in fact it encompasses way more than just the physical - but it is a choice to 'let go' in all areas of life, which means to give up the pursuit of ones own agenda for life and submit it to God's agenda.
"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matt 16: 25 & 26)
The answer to Jesus' questions in these verses is of course 'nothing'. Nothing can be given in exchange for a person's life. No material thing, no earthly achievement, no degree certificate, no healthy family, nothing. The only hope the follower of Jesus has is utter abandonment to Jesus' cause, with a commensurate trust that he will do everything necessary for life 'through' us.
The better we learn to die, the better the risen Jesus will be able to live through us. That's the exchange we are to become a part of as Christ followers. One of the best examples of such a life was John the Baptist, who said of Jesus; "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3.30).
I believe that this is one of the greatest meanings of Jesus' death and resurrection; that after a death always comes a new life for the ones who learn to trust in God.
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