Victory Over Death Series

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).