Is this a small proof of death’s weakness? Is it a slight demonstration of the Savior’s victory over it, when young men and young women who are in Christ disregard this present life and train themselves to die?
By nature, a human being fears death and the dissolution of the body. Yet this is the most extraordinary thing: one who has put on faith in the Cross scorns even what is naturally fearful and, because of Christ, does not fear death.
Fire has by nature the power to burn. Suppose someone said that there is a substance that does not fear its burning but instead shows fire to be weak, as the fireproof material asbestos in India is said to do. If someone did not believe the claim and wished to test it, he would certainly put on the fireproof material and touch the fire; then he would be convinced of the fire’s weakness.
Or if someone wished to see a tyrant bound, he would certainly enter the country and dominion of the conqueror and see the man who terrified others reduced to weakness. So if someone remains unbelieving even after so many proofs, after so many martyrs in Christ, and after seeing death scorned every day by those distinguished in Christ, and still doubts whether death has been brought to nothing and reached its end, he does well to marvel at so great a thing. But he should not remain stubborn in unbelief or hardened against what is so clear.
Just as the person who possesses asbestos learns that fire cannot burn it, and the person who wishes to see the tyrant bound enters the dominion of the conqueror, so the one who disbelieves the victory over death should receive the faith of Christ and enter into His teaching. Then he will see death’s weakness and the victory over it. Many who formerly disbelieved and mocked later came to faith and so scorned death that they themselves became martyrs for Christ.