"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you... I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit." (from John 15:13-16)
Humans often romanticize or soften death (as if there is any way for death to be dignified) because in reality, it's a gruesome horror they'd rather not face. Even those that express a wish to die are not seeking death, they are seeking relief from unbearable circumstances. In a single moment there is no choice but to die of old age, disease, catastrophe, or violence. Death is the end of all hope as far as physical eyes alone can see.
God is glorified in His people when they walk with full, honest awareness in "the valley of the shadow of death" while they "fear no evil". (Psalm 23:4) Death is not a welcome friend to anyone but there is a welcoming Friend to guide His friends into the Promised Land. With this Friend to welcome, death is not the end, but the realization of all Hope.
Jesus' lay down His life in order to be that welcoming Friend.
