Christ’s Victory Over Death

Introduction

Imagine that Jesus died but did not rise from the dead?

If He died but there is no resurrection, then there will be no ascension. If there is no ascension, there is no Pentecost. If there is no Pentecost, there is no power. Christianity will be a religion without power. Christianity will be like any other religion

A believer in Christ needs to believe in the resurrection. If you don’t believe the resurrection, then who should?

The resurrection is so critical that Peter often takes time to systematically explain and establish the fact that Jesus rose from the dead – see Acts 2:23-33; Acts 3:12-15; Acts 10:38-42. Acts 2:24 says “whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.” Jesus could not be held by the power of death.

Let us now look at 10 reflections.

Reflections on the Resurrection:

1. Jesus died and was buried, but the Jewish leaders quickly realized that there was something more to it and they needed to prevent it from happening. What they feared was the resurrection. They did many things to ensure that He did not rise from the dead. An example is placing guards at the tomb. After the resurrection, they bribed the guards to say that His body was stolen. They knew that His resurrection was complete defeat for them, but there was nothing they could do about it.

2. Jesus' rising from the dead is the total and ultimate victory for all mankind. It did not happen for His own benefit. Some of the benefits for mankind are that the deal for salvation was completed. Without the resurrection, the deal is not complete. See 1 Corinthians 15.17

3. Only through the resurrection can we have assurance of our salvation. It is only the death and resurrection of Jesus that are the necessary and sufficient conditions for salvation. It was accomplished through His victory over death.

4. Because He rose from the dead, we shall also rise from the dead and our loved ones who have died in the Lord will rise again. 1 Corinthians 15:18-20.

5. We know that we have eternal life and we shall spend eternity with Him. The resurrection confirms this fact. This will not be possible if Jesus did not rise from the dead.

6. His victory over death is the ultimate victory over sin. It is only with His resurrection that Jesus can live in our hearts and empower us with inner strength to overcome sin and the sinful nature. He becomes the seed of God in us, so that we cannot sin (1 John 3.9). ‘You ask me how I know He lives …He lives within my heart’, is that beautiful song.

7. We can experience "transformed lives" because we can now have His presence with us. Because He can now live in our hearts, we can have His tangible presence and experience His power.

8. He resurrection bring a lot of comfort for those grieving about loved ones who have died in the Lord. See 1 Corinthians 15.20. It gives the assurance that their death is not the end.

9. We can receive the Holy Spirit because of the resurrection and the ascension. Without these the Holy Spirit would not have come. After He rose from the dead, He breathed on them and said "receive the Holy Spirit" - John 20:22. Before His death and resurrection, He only told them about this as a future event (see Acts 1:8).

10. The fact that Jesus rose from the dead was the theme of Peter's preaching on many occasions – Acts 2:23-33; Acts 3:12-15; Acts 10:38-42.

KEY Lessons from Today's Reflections

1. If Christ died and did not rise from the dead, then the transaction is not complete. We could not be saved and enjoy His presence.

2. The 3-S victory comes as a result of the resurrection! His victory over death brought us victory over sin, sickness and satan. It is total victory! Victory over sin because we were buried with Him and raised up with Him. Victory over sickness because His death and resurrection confirms the covenant we have with God, and over satan because the worse he could do was kill Him. Satan did not know that Jesus will rise again from the dead.

3. 1 Corinthians 15:14-19 "If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and our faith is also empty”. Verse 17 says “our faith is futile and we are still in our sins.” Indeed, our faith is in the resurrected Lord.

4. The victory over death gives us hope in this life and beyond! And it brings us comfort in our pain over loss of loved ones.

Leadership Lessons:

A good understanding of the rising from the dead is important for our Christian life and walk, and leaders_ must carefully teach it.