#John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23; Hebrews 2:14-15#
Kevin states that the fear of death can be addressed by faith in Jesus. He explains that people try to avoid or minimize death, but it's an inevitable reality. Kevin recounts personal experiences with death, including the death of a friend's son and a baseball coach, Dave. He references philosophers like Aristotle and Shakespeare who viewed death with despair and contrasts this with Max Lucado's idea of death as a passageway. Kevin then focuses on John 14, where Jesus comforts his disciples by promising to prepare a place for them and return to take them to be with him. He interprets Jesus' words as wedding imagery, portraying Jesus as a groom preparing a home for his bride, the church. Kevin explains that the resurrection of Jesus provides confidence in God's provision, assuring believers of their own resurrection. He emphasizes that the early church's message centered on the resurrection. He argues that Jesus' resurrection breaks the power of the devil and frees people from the slavery of fearing death. He concludes by urging listeners to consider their personal relationship with Jesus and how it can transform their perspective on death, encouraging those without a relationship with Jesus to accept Christ.