"THE educated belief that Soul is in the body causes mortals to regard death as a friend, as a stepping-stone out of mortality into immortality and bliss. The Bible calls death an enemy, and Jesus overcame death and the grave instead of yielding to them. He was 'the way.' To him, therefore, death was not the threshold over which he must pass into living glory." Thus writes Mary Baker Eddy on page 39 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures."
Christ Jesus' victory over death was not the first recorded in Scriptural history. We read (Hebr. 11:5), "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." It is also recorded that "Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven" (II Kings 2:11).
Although Jesus submitted to crucifixion, he could have avoided the experience. Awareness of his divine mission inspired the courage and self-sacrifice necessary to undergo that ordeal for the salutary effect his resurrection and ascension would have on his followers of all times.
