The pyramids of Egypt are famous because they contain the mummified bodies of ancient Egyptian kings. Westminster Abbey in London is renowned, because in it rest the bodies of English nobles and notables. Mohammed’s tomb (medina, Saudi Arabia) is noted for the stone coffin and the bones which it contains. Arlington Cemetery in Washington, D.C., is revered, for it is the honored resting place of many outstanding Americans. There is, however, all the difference in the world between the tomb of Christ and these places which we have just mentioned. They are famous and draw visitors from afar because of what they contain; while the Garden Tomb is famous because it is empty. [1]
Jesus raising from the dead is our hope and is our victory over death. That is our hope. If Jesus just died on the cross and if that were the end of the story, according to scripture, we would be still be dead in our sins and those who died in Christ have all perished.
1 Corinthians 15:17–18 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
Furthermore, Paul said that we as Christians should be pitied more all men. But Christ did rise from the dead. And now, like Christ, we can have victory over death.
1 Corinthians 15:50–58
MAX LUCADO, in his book, Six Hours One Friday, tells the story of a missionary in Brazil who discovered a tribe of Indians in a remote part of the jungle. They lived near a large river.
The tribe was in need of medical attention. A contagious disease was ravaging the population. People were dying daily. A hospital was not too terribly far away- just across the river, but the Indians would not cross it because they believed it was inhabited by evil spirits. To enter the water would mean certain death.
The missionary explained how he had crossed the river and was unharmed. They were not impressed. He then took them to the bank and placed his hand in the water. They still wouldn’t go in. He walked into the water up to his waist and splashed water on his face. It didn’t matter. They were still afraid to enter the river.
Finally, he dove into the river, swam beneath the surface until he emerged on the other side. He punched a triumphant fist into the air. He had entered the water and escaped. It was then that the Indians broke out into a cheer and followed him across.
That’s exactly what Jesus did! He told the people of His day that they need not fear the river of death, but they wouldn’t believe.
He touched a dead boy, the only son of a poor widow and called him back to life. They still didn’t believe. (the widow’s son Luke 7:12-15)
He whispered life into the body of a dead girl, the daughter of an official of the synagogue and got the same result. (Jairus’ daughter Luke 8:49-55), the people were reluctant to believe.
He let a dead man spend 4 days in a tomb and then called him out and the people still didn’t believe Him. (Lazarus John 11:43-44)
Finally, He, Jesus, entered the river of death Himself and came out on the other side. Victory over death! [2]
A big difference between Jesus rising from the dead and these others that Christ brought back to life, all of these, the widow’s son, Jairus’ daughter, and Lazarus, they were brought back to a mortal life, only to have to face death again. Jesus came back to life in an immortal body, never to die again.
Jesus has defeated death and so can we! The scriptures tells us that death was the last enemy to be conquered.
1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
But to destroy that enemy, Christ had to die a horrible death on a Roman cross. His death was as a substitute. He died for me and He died for you. One thing I don’t think I’ll ever get over is the fact that it should have been me on that cross. But Jesus took my place.
1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
And Jesus rose from the dead, just as he said he would
1 Corinthians 15:4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
This morning in the sunrise service we observed the two facts of the empty tomb: (1) The tomb is empty. It was occupied by the very dead body of Jesus and (2) He (Jesus) Is Not Here, for He is risen (Matthew 28:6).
1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.
Christ rose in an eternal, immortal, yet physical body. He was the first. Those others we just mentioned that Jesus brought back to life, only lived to die again. But Jesus is first fruits of all who died in Christ. And one day we shall be like him, never to die again.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
When will that happen?
1 Corinthians 15:22–23 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,
Those who are in Christ and have died, will rise, just as Christ did, when He returns. The one thing that we as Christians, have been repeatedly assured of, is that He indeed, will return. The dead in Christ will join Him and will be like Him. The question comes up about those of who are alive at His coming.
1 Corinthians 15:50–51 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
A mystery is a truth previously unknow. Our mortal bodies cannot enter eternity. The fact is we are not fit in our present bodies (whether dead or alive) to inherit the kingdom of God. Like the dead whose bodies that have been corrupted in the grave, we too, our bodies also are corrupted and imperfect, so likewise, who are alive will also be changed.
1 Corinthians 15:52–53 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
This is often called the rapture, when Jesus comes to take home his own. We will be changed to be like Him and we take on immortality. And here is the beauty of the resurrection!
1 Corinthians 15:54–55 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55 O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?”
As Christ defeated death, so shall we who are in Christ. Like Christ, we will never again experience death.
“DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory” Paul is paraphrasing from Isaiah 25:8. This was prophesied many centuries before. This is not new theology.
“O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” Paul is paraphrasing from Hosea 13:14. These are not new ideas, but fulfillment of Scripture.
Why fear death? Paul now comments on these things.
1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
The sting of death is sin – the fact is all have sinned (Romans 3:23) and because of our willful actions, there is consequences.
Romans 6:23a For the wages of sin is death …
We deserve death. Why? Because we have offended a Holy God, and we have broken His laws. "The strength of sin is the law." Whether we know the law or not, we all know we have done things that we should not have done. We all have lied, cheated, stolen, and so forth. Why fear death? More than the unknown – it is our sense of sin. And it is the consequences of sin we fear, of death, physical death and spiritual death, and we fear the second death (according to Revelation 20:14) and being cast into the lake of fire for eternity.
If we are at peace with God, we can meet God with a clear mind, clothed in the righteousness of Jesus, then to die would be an adventure- something to look forward to.
2 Corinthians 5:6–8 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight— 8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
Physical death is no longer to be feared, but we look for ward to the day, when our task on earth is done, to be call home by the Lord. We can rely on what Christ has done. Not only did he take the penalty of our offenses against a holy God, He defeats death and is the firstfruits of those who will follow him.
1 Corinthians 15:57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Make no mistake; we did not win the victory, Christ won the victory and God gave what Christ has won to us.
It is not about us. It has never been about us: It is all Christ Jesus. To Him be the glory! We need to be praising God day and night for what He has done for us. We no longer fear death. Jesus said:
John 14:19b … because I live, you will live also.
But Paul does not leave us on this spiritual mountain top. He gives us practical application.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
Because we no longer fear death, because we no longer fear what eternity will bring, because we are free from the grips of sin, we are fully free to serve Him. Being in Christ is everything. Our salvation is everything. We stand firm, because what can the world possibly do to us?
Paul tells us:
Romans 8:31–34 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
Jesus has secured our future, our future in heaven with him, not in hell, there is nothing else in all creation to fear. But Jesus never promised that a life given over to him would be easy.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Jesus had overcome the world.
The question for you this morning is whether you fear death or can you claim the victory that Jesus won over death. Herein is the gospel, we do not need to ever fear death, to fear what lies in eternity, to fear what the world can do to us. Can we sing the song:
1 Corinthians 15:54b–55 “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55 O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?”
Can you be found in Christ today. Today is the day of salvation. Today you can have victory over death.
2 Corinthians 6:2b Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION”
We can have that victory over death today.
[1] Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc., 1996), 669.
[2] www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/christs-passion-for-victory-mark-magee-sermon-on-jesus-christ-70996?page=0
