Referencing Philippians 1:21—“for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain”—Mark said both the Apostle Paul and John MacArthur loved seeing their people grow in love for Jesus. “What Paul is saying here, and what Dad was saying, is ‘to live is to see Christ in my people,’” he noted. “‘And if I die, I see my Christ.’”
Mark described being at his father’s bedside in the ICU last month. “Dad was clear-minded, but he was really suffering. It was heartbreaking,” said Mark, referring to John MacArthur’s final illness with pneumonia. “I said, ‘Dad, do you remember that car drive when you asked me are you ready to die?’”
“I said, ‘Dad, are you ready to die?’” Mark said. “And he said, ‘Yes, I’m tired…I can barely talk. I cannot sing, and I’ll never preach again. I want to breathe celestial air. I want to see Christ.’”
Mark MacArthur continued:
I asked Dad, “Dad, do you want us to pray right now that God would bring you home?” Without hesitation, [Dad replied,] ‘Yes.’ And so on that Saturday before he went to heaven on Monday, Matt and I stood there, and we each prayed with Dad easily the most painful and most joyful prayer a son could ever utter. “Great God in heaven, bring your servant home.” I’ll never forget that. Dad’s confidence in his Savior and his contentment in God’s sovereignty was so obvious that we submitted to his desire to be prayed into heaven. It’s incredible.
Mark MacArthur said he wanted to ask the memorial attendees that same question “in honor of Dad.” Anyone who isn’t ready to die should “repent and believe,” he emphasized.
Mark concluded:
There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. It is Jesus. He is the name above all names. And that was Dad’s greatest love. But if you are ready like Dad was, then I echo Paul. Be alive in Christ…. Death has no sting. We live with fervor and joy. We live with smiles and happiness. We are the most envious people in the entire universe. We have Christ. It is the greatest joy in all the world to look at a loved one and say, “I don’t know if it’s today, but if it is, I’m ready.” Why? Because the name of Christ is worthy. I’ve never been more proud to be the son of John.
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ChurchLeaders reached out for comment to Mark MacArthur, Matt MacArthur, Sharon Devol, and Phil Johnson, executive director of Grace to You. We will update this article with any replies.
