When you think of death, do you think exclusively of a cessation of brain activity, a beating heart, and breathing? Of course, if someone does not have a heartbeat, is nothing breathing, and have zero brain activity -- then yes, they are clinically dead.

But in the Bible, death is more than a ceasing of vital body functions. In the Bible, the force of death is visible and active in this world in ways we simply do not think of, and we should allow the Bible to determine our understanding of death, death's influence on humanity, and the answer to death: resurrection.

Jesus' death defeated death, the power of death in the life of the believer, and gives a genuine hope in the resurrection to come.