Preparing for Death: Lessons from Pilgrim's Progress

 

Summary

In this final lecture on Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress," we delve into the poignant conclusion of Christiana's journey and the spiritual lessons embedded in the deathbed scenes of various characters. Each character's departure to the Celestial City is marked by a personal summons, a reflection of the Puritan belief in preparing for death as a significant and inevitable part of life. The narrative emphasizes the importance of spiritual readiness and the assurance of salvation through faith in Christ.

Mr. Despondency's story is particularly moving, as he and his daughter, Much Afraid, resolve to leave behind their spiritual melancholy and fears, urging others not to pick them up. This highlights the Puritan approach to dealing with spiritual despondency through biblical counsel and community support. The narrative also touches on the cultural differences between the 17th century and today, particularly in how death was a more visible and communal experience in Bunyan's time.

The characters' last words are profound, each reflecting their spiritual journey and readiness to meet their Savior. Mr. Valiant for Truth's declaration, "Death, where is thy sting? Grave, where is thy victory?" echoes the biblical assurance of victory over death through Christ. Mr. Standfast's calm and confident crossing of the river symbolizes the peace that comes from a life lived in faith and anticipation of eternal life.

Bunyan's work serves as an evangelistic tool, urging readers to examine their own spiritual readiness and relationship with Christ. The narrative challenges us to live with an eternal perspective, holding loosely to the things of this world and preparing for our eventual home in the New Jerusalem. Bunyan's legacy as a pastor and author continues to inspire and instruct believers, encouraging them to engage deeply with the truths of the gospel.

Key Takeaways:

- Spiritual Readiness for Death: The narrative emphasizes the importance of being spiritually prepared for death, a concept deeply rooted in Puritan theology. This readiness involves a personal relationship with Christ, repentance, and faith, ensuring that death is not feared but embraced as a transition to eternal life. [19:24]

- Dealing with Spiritual Despondency: Mr. Despondency's story illustrates the struggle with spiritual melancholy and the importance of leaving behind fears and doubts. The Puritans addressed these issues through biblical counsel, emphasizing the need for community support and reliance on God's promises. [02:55]

- Cultural Perspectives on Death: The 17th-century context of Bunyan's work highlights the communal and visible nature of death during that time, contrasting with modern experiences where death is often hidden. This cultural difference underscores the importance of preparing for death and valuing the last words and spiritual legacies of those who pass. [06:23]

- Victory Over Death Through Christ: The characters' last words reflect their assurance of victory over death through faith in Christ. This echoes the biblical promise of eternal life and the defeat of death's sting, providing comfort and hope to believers. [07:53]

- Living with an Eternal Perspective: Bunyan's narrative challenges readers to live with an eternal perspective, holding loosely to worldly attachments and focusing on the heavenly home. This involves a life of faith, obedience, and anticipation of the joy and rewards awaiting in the Celestial City. [16:07]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:23] - Christiana's Farewell
- [01:01] - Mr. Ready to Halt's Departure
- [01:40] - Mr. Despondency's Struggle
- [02:19] - Leaving Behind Fears
- [03:14] - Spiritual Melancholy
- [04:36] - Death in the 17th Century
- [06:04] - Witnessing Death
- [07:15] - Last Words of Faith
- [08:12] - Mr. Valiant for Truth
- [09:51] - Mr. Standfast's Journey
- [12:46] - Crossing the River
- [15:13] - Preparing for Death
- [16:42] - Summons from the King
- [19:24] - Are You Ready to Die?
- [21:46] - Challenge to Read Pilgrim's Progress

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress"

Bible Reading:
1. Ecclesiastes 12:6-7 - "Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it."
2. 1 Corinthians 15:55 - "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

Observation Questions:
1. What are the significant last words of Mr. Valiant for Truth, and how do they reflect his spiritual journey? ([07:53])
2. How does Mr. Despondency's story illustrate the Puritan approach to dealing with spiritual melancholy? ([02:55])
3. What cultural differences regarding death are highlighted between the 17th century and today? ([06:23])
4. How does the narrative describe the summons each character receives to the Celestial City? ([16:42])

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the assurance of victory over death through Christ provide comfort to believers, as seen in Mr. Valiant for Truth's declaration? ([07:53])
2. In what ways does the narrative challenge readers to live with an eternal perspective, and how might this affect daily life? ([16:07])
3. How does the communal experience of death in the 17th century influence the characters' spiritual readiness? ([06:23])
4. What role does community support play in overcoming spiritual despondency, according to Mr. Despondency's story? ([02:55])

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own spiritual readiness. What steps can you take to ensure you are prepared for the transition to eternal life? ([19:24])
2. Consider a time when you struggled with spiritual despondency. How can you seek biblical counsel and community support to overcome it? ([02:55])
3. How can you cultivate an eternal perspective in your daily life, holding loosely to worldly attachments? ([16:07])
4. In what ways can you be a source of comfort and hope to others facing the fear of death, using the assurance of victory through Christ? ([07:53])
5. How can you incorporate the practice of preparing for death into your spiritual life, as the Puritans did? ([15:13])
6. Identify a specific fear or doubt you need to leave behind, like Mr. Despondency. What practical steps can you take to do so? ([02:55])
7. How can you engage with Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" to deepen your understanding of the gospel and its implications for your life? ([21:46])

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Death as a Spiritual Transition
The narrative of "Pilgrim's Progress" emphasizes the importance of being spiritually prepared for death, a concept deeply rooted in Puritan theology. This readiness involves a personal relationship with Christ, repentance, and faith, ensuring that death is not feared but embraced as a transition to eternal life. The characters in Bunyan's work each receive a personal summons to the Celestial City, symbolizing the Puritan belief in the inevitability of death and the need for spiritual readiness. This perspective encourages believers to live with an awareness of their mortality and the assurance of salvation through faith in Christ. [19:24]

"For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." (2 Corinthians 5:1, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a mindset that views death not as an end, but as a transition to eternal life with Christ? What steps can you take today to deepen your relationship with Him?


Day 2: Overcoming Spiritual Despondency
Mr. Despondency's story in "Pilgrim's Progress" illustrates the struggle with spiritual melancholy and the importance of leaving behind fears and doubts. The Puritans addressed these issues through biblical counsel, emphasizing the need for community support and reliance on God's promises. Mr. Despondency and his daughter, Much Afraid, resolve to leave behind their spiritual melancholy, urging others not to pick them up. This highlights the importance of addressing spiritual despondency through community and faith, encouraging believers to seek support and guidance from fellow Christians and to trust in God's faithfulness. [02:55]

"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God." (Psalm 42:11, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a fear or doubt that has been weighing on your heart. How can you seek support from your community and rely on God's promises to overcome it today?


Day 3: Valuing the Legacy of Those Who Pass
The 17th-century context of Bunyan's work highlights the communal and visible nature of death during that time, contrasting with modern experiences where death is often hidden. This cultural difference underscores the importance of preparing for death and valuing the last words and spiritual legacies of those who pass. In "Pilgrim's Progress," the characters' last words are profound, reflecting their spiritual journey and readiness to meet their Savior. This perspective encourages believers to cherish the spiritual legacies of those who have gone before and to consider the legacy they will leave behind. [06:23]

"Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith." (Hebrews 13:7, ESV)

Reflection: Think of someone whose spiritual legacy has impacted your life. How can you honor their memory by living out the values and faith they exemplified?


Day 4: Assurance of Victory Over Death
The characters' last words in "Pilgrim's Progress" reflect their assurance of victory over death through faith in Christ. This echoes the biblical promise of eternal life and the defeat of death's sting, providing comfort and hope to believers. Mr. Valiant for Truth's declaration, "Death, where is thy sting? Grave, where is thy victory?" serves as a powerful reminder of the victory believers have in Christ. This assurance encourages Christians to live with confidence and hope, knowing that death has been conquered through Jesus' resurrection. [07:53]

"But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me." (Psalm 49:15, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you live with greater confidence and hope, knowing that Christ has secured victory over death for you?


Day 5: Living with an Eternal Perspective
Bunyan's narrative challenges readers to live with an eternal perspective, holding loosely to worldly attachments and focusing on the heavenly home. This involves a life of faith, obedience, and anticipation of the joy and rewards awaiting in the Celestial City. The characters in "Pilgrim's Progress" demonstrate a commitment to living with an eternal perspective, prioritizing their spiritual journey over earthly concerns. This perspective encourages believers to evaluate their priorities and to live in a way that reflects their hope in the promises of God and the reality of eternal life. [16:07]

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." (2 Corinthians 4:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself overly attached to worldly things? How can you shift your focus to live with an eternal perspective today?

Quotes


well these are deathbed scenes uh that bunan is referring to in this final section uh of part two of Pilgrims Progress and one by one they they go one by one they're called and the messenger uh comes and bids them uh go to the celestial uh City uh there comes another post uh for immediately after uh the calling of Christiana there comes a call for Mr ready to Halt uh and he uh bequeaths his crutches uh to his son uh because he had no need of them where he was going [00:00:50]

Mr despondency said to his friends myself and my daughter you know what we have been and how Troublesome we have behaved ourselves in every company my will and my daughters is that our desponds and slavish fears be by no man ever received from the day of our departure forever uh he sees these um these troubling of his these despondency of his these uh bouts of melancholy and depression that he has he and his daughter he sees them as so many ghosts [00:02:53]

for the Puritans death was not the great unmentionable uh death was the climax of Life Death was something that you prepared for they were familiar with it most of their children had died in infancy in the 17th century uh disease disas of one kind or another plague influenza all kinds of things uh would take hundreds perhaps thousands of people uh in a short space of time life expectancy was not terribly long uh in the 17th century [00:04:44]

most people died at home that's not true today there are many many Christians in their 20s 30s 40s who've never actually seen someone die uh people die in hospital they they die elsewhere they die out of sight uh they they die uh without uh without preparation but uh in Ban's time people died at home uh so you were there you heard uh the death pangs you ministered to them in the watches of the night you read to them prayed with them [00:05:27]

Mr ready to Halt as he bequeaths his crutches to his son because he had no need of them uh he says welcome life uh Mr feeble mind's last words were hold out faith and patience uh Mr despondency farewell night welcome day how uh how appropriate for somebody who suffers from depression uh and Mr Valiant for truth death where is thy sting grave uh where is thy uh Victory [00:07:15]

he called for his friends and told them of it then said he I'm going to go to my fathers and though with great difficulty I am got hither yet now I do not repent me of all all the trouble I have been at to arrive where I am My Sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage and my courage and skill to him that can get it my marks and scars I carry with me to be a witness for me that I have fought his battles who now will be my rewarder [00:08:48]

the river has been a terror to many yay the thoughts of it also have often frightened me but now me thinks I stand easy my foot is fixed upon that upon which the feet of the priests that bear the Ark of the Covenant stood while Israel went over this Jordan the waters indeed are to the pallet bitter and to the stomach cold yet the thoughts of what I am going to and of the conduct that awaits me on the other side do lie as a glowing coal in my heart [00:12:07]

I see myself at the end of my journey my tsome days are ended I'm going to see that head that was crowned with thorns that face which was spit upon for me I have formerly lived in hearsay and Faith but now I go where I shall live by sight and shall be with him in whose company I Delight myself I've loved to hear my Lord spoken of and wherever I have seen the print of his shoe in the earth there I have coveted to set my foot too [00:12:39]

his name has been to me a civet box yay sweeter than all perfumes his voice to me has been most sweet and his countenance more desired than they that have most desired the light of the sun his word I did use to gather for my food and for antidotes against my faintings he ha held me and ha kept me from mine iniquities yay my steps hath he strengthened in his way now while he was thus in discourse his countenance changed [00:13:08]

the Puritans believe that you should prepare for death that it shouldn't catch you unawares now there is such a thing as sudden death of of course but that we should think about death that we should remind ourselves that here we have no continuing City but we seek one which is to come whose Builder and maker is God the Puritans urged that we live with our bags packed and ready to go shouldn't set Roots down too deeply in this world [00:15:13]

are you ready to die the question that Thomas Goodwin put to a 12year old old prospective student making his way to Oxford University and to mlin college are you ready to die and the 12-year-old ran from the room in Terror thinking he was about to be killed but he was a Puritan and he was asking the question do you know the gospel uh are you in Union and communion with the Lord Jesus Christ have you repented of your sin [00:19:24]

I think Pilgrim's Progress is an Evangelistic book uh it's meant to teach it's meant to instruct it's meant to be a book read in the home I trust these lessons have uh kindled in you a desire to uh do uh what Augustin uh heard over a a hedge one day uh T Le take up and read uh it was the beginning of his own conversion and uh here is a book that for centuries since its first publication in the 17th century has been the most published book other than the Bible in the English language [00:20:52]

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Transcript
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