The Day Death Was Disabled

by Rev. James Wong

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 15:55-57 NIV).

Easter Sunday is the most important annual religious event in the Christian liturgical year. It is the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. According to the Bible Jesus was resurrected from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection brought an end to death. It was the day death died and the beginning of a new era where we can live with hope in the knowledge that there is life beyond the grave, and this life is eternal life given by God in Christ.

The New Testament teaches that the resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of the Christian faith. “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (11 Cor 15:14-15 NIV). Without the resurrection, there is no Christian faith … and no church!

The resurrection established that Jesus is the son of God. Through his resurrection Christians are given a new life. “... just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life” (1 Cor 15:21-22 NLT).

Here is an interesting description of death. ‘Death is the strongest predator on the face of the earth -- relentlessly tracking down each victim, catching and wrestling him down to the rot and mire of the grave! Death is seen day and night going to and fro throughout the earth stalking his prey. He is seen lurking in the shadows, with the souls of men in his grasp. He is the terror of the night. He plays no favorites and is not prejudiced: He leaps upon you and old; man, woman, and child alike. Red, yellow, black or white. He rides the wind gapping and screaming for the body and soul of man’ (Dr. Ralph J Mcintyre, Feeding the Inner Man, p.109).

Everyone is stung by sin and sin is the poison of life that ultimately brings death to our mortal bodies. But God gives us victory over death through our Lord Jesus Christ. Darkness ceases whenever there is light. Death ceases whenever there is life. Let us celebrate Easter, the day death died, conquered by life. Thus death was disabled forever.