Former U.S. Senator Ben Sasse was moved to tears during a recent interview as he reflected on his faith in Jesus Christ while facing stage-4 pancreatic cancer.
Sasse, 53, publicly revealed in December that he has advanced pancreatic cancer and expects the disease to take his life. In a deeply personal conversation released on Ash Wednesday, he spoke candidly about the physical toll of the illness and the spiritual hope that sustains him.
At several moments during the interview, Sasse became emotional as he described the comfort he finds in the Gospel. He reflected on humanity's brokenness and the grace offered through Christ's life, death and resurrection, emphasizing that suffering and death are not the final word for believers.
"That's not the end of the story," Sasse said, as he pointed to the Christian conviction that redemption and eternal life are grounded not in human effort but in Christ's finished work.
Sasse acknowledged the ongoing pain caused by tumors, particularly along his spine, and spoke openly about the sobering realities of a terminal diagnosis. Yet he also shared how the experience has reshaped his understanding of success, ambition and personal identity, leading him to cling more fully to spiritual disciplines and the promises of Scripture.
The interview also included reflections from theologian Michael Horton and former Assistant Attorney General Dan Bryant, who discussed the Christian understanding of suffering and the hope articulated in the New Testament - that present afflictions are not worth comparing with the glory to be revealed.
Sasse served as Nebraska's U.S. senator from 2015 to 2023 before stepping down to become president of the University of Florida. Throughout his public life, he has spoken openly about his Christian faith. In this latest chapter, he has continued to emphasize that while pancreatic cancer is often described medically as a "death sentence," the Gospel offers a hope that transcends prognosis.
His testimony has resonated widely across social media and Christian communities, where many have expressed support and prayer for Sasse and his family during this difficult season.
