We are used to thinking about death negatively.  And it is true that death is still the final enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26).  Death to us always means subtraction: one life taken away from a family, one less person in the world.  And that is also true.  We cannot deny that every death is a loss to our relationship causing further loss to our well-being which we call bereavement.  But in Christ, death does not subtract; rather, it multiplies.
 
Jesus used the illustration of the grain of wheat which, when it rots in the ground, appears to be lost.  But because it has life within it, a new shoot soon springs up and many more grains are formed in the ear of corn.  In the same way, the death of Jesus was not a waste of a good life or a disastrous end to a promising ministry.  Through His death He was able to break the power of death and give eternal life to all who believe in Him.  Jesus was saying that He had to die, and that the right time would be very soon.
 
In the same way, it has been famously said by the 2nd Century church father, Tertullian, that the blood of martyrs is the seed of the church. Certainly, the example of fearless believers who were not ashamed to risk their own lives has given courage to many others to put their trust in Jesus.  When the first Christian martyr, Stephen, was put to death the Apostle Paul was watching (Acts 7:57-60; Acts 8:1) and the memory stayed with him (2 Timothy 4:16-18) giving him courage to face an unjust death himself.
 
Today, more Christians are being persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ than at any other time in history.  And yet, the church is still growing as people put their trust in Jesus, whose death has given life to many millions, and as they note the example of those who have suffered so much (Philippians 1:29).  Today, if it is you who is suffering, then remember that Jesus has suffered before you and will bring you to His eternal kingdom.  And if the fear of death is not immediate, please pray for millions of your brothers and sisters who live daily under the shadow of evil.