Why the Resurrection? Day Six/Reason Six

To Defeat and Overcome Death

Death is the perfect enemy of mankind. It has a 100% success rate, killing all whom it targets (with the exceptions of two men for whom God intervened—namely, Enoch and Elijah). No one is safe from its power; it works on its own schedule; it often works unexpectedly. Death is a champion. Like a warrior in battle, such as Goliath, death has a guaranteed victory over all whom it faces, and it is willing and able to face anyone and everyone. Death was even willing to take on God’s Chosen One—the Messiah.

Jesus’ death and resurrection, however, was both predetermined and calculated; it was not a mistake or merely ‘Plan B’. Death did not take Christ by surprise, nor was death ever in control. The writer of Acts, in recording the Apostle Peter’s first sermon, makes this clear to us when he says, “God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power” (Acts 2:24). Jesus laid down His own life and, as He made clear to His opponents, He had the power to take His life again from death’s icy grip (John 10:17-18).

Jesus looked death straight in the face, unflinchingly submitted to it, and then defeated it. “Having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit,” Jesus was given absolute jurisdiction over death and its power (1 Peter 3:18). Jesus won the victory over death and strangled it of its great power over mankind. Thus the apostle can say, “‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).

Death was like the serpent himself. Mankind was fearful of death, having no hope, knowing that death would take each and every one of them. Death struck like a yellow jacket. Its sting was bitter, taking the precious gift of life from people. Death owned this sting because of mankind’s sinfulness. Sin, having complete sway over mankind, brought them just condemnation under the law. Thus death was rightfully taking peoples’ lives away. They were all judged and found worthy of death by the righteous standard of the law of God.

Yet, because Christ, the firstborn from the dead, has been resurrected unto the fullness of eternal life, taking the just penalty of God’s wrath upon Himself, He has robbed death of its sting and victory. Death no longer has its power and sway. It no longer has the ability to rob the children of God of their hope. Christ, coming under subjection to the Law, has redeemed us from the curse of the Law (cf. Galatians 3:13, 4:4-7).

We can therefore exclaim, “thanks be to God!” The victory is now ours, through Christ Jesus. We no longer have to fear death. We have a mediator beyond the grave who has promised to prepare a place for all those who follow Him to the end (cf. John 14:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:1-2). Jesus is the victor over death. Death now submits to the wishes of Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate champion; death has been defeated!