Life, Death, or Both: How Sacrifice Leads to Fruitfulness in Marriage

When is death a good thing?

Death is a prime example of what isn’t right with the world. We watch life come forth and grow, and when death occurs it’s as if we all have this deep knowing that it just isn’t right.

So when, if ever, is death a good thing? Is it even possible?

These past few months I have been watching Jason get ready for springtime and our garden. We’ve planned, and he has nurtured the seeds, carefully planting each one.

This is the time of year for life to “spring” forth! Yet, interestingly, that life would not be possible without death.

You see, a seed has to die in order to bring forth life and fruitfulness. The seed goes into the soil and essentially dies. If it doesn’t die as a seed, it will never become what it was made to become. All of the beautiful flowers and yummy garden delights that come forth from a seed, start with its death.

Today is Good Friday, the day that Jesus died. What’s so good about it?

It is the day He was crucified in an humiliating, agonizing way. It sounds awful. It was horrendous. His disciples thought all was lost…

…but God.

Jesus wasn’t just any man though. He wasn’t just an ordinary human cursed and hung on a tree. He was (is) God!

John 10:17-18 says He laid down His own life and had the authority to raise it up again. As God, Jesus chose to die, and then raised Himself back to life, bringing the keys of death and Hades with Him.

Why?

Life!

He was crucified as the “lamb of sacrifice” on Passover. The following day on the Feast of Unleavened Bread, his sinless (unleavened) body lay in the grave. Then on the third day, the Feast of First Fruits, He was raised to life! Like the seed, Jesus went to the grave, but out of His death came the greatest victory - the fruit of eternal life for those who would trust in Him.

On this Good Friday, is there an area you need victory over in marriage? There are many ways of thinking or behaving that are harmful to relationships. Selfishness comes to mind. Pride. Rebellion.

Like Jesus’ death, like the death of a seed, for new life to spring forth in your marriage, the old, harmful ways have to die.

Jesus still has the power to raise to life.

He restores and redeems.

But that often means laying something down ourselves so that He may have His way in our lives and so our marriage can be fruitful.

Twelve years ago I laid down selfish destructive thinking that nearly destroyed my relationship with Jason. The old me died in Christ so that a new me could be born. I gave everything to Jesus so He could reign in my life. In return, He gave me everything.

What do you need to surrender today?…perhaps a bad habit or way of thinking? What in your life needs to end so that your marriage can begin anew?

Jennifer S. Goins