CHRIST’S
VICTORY OVER DEATH
The transgression of our first parents in
In
harmony with the Bible we come to the conclusion that God has subjected man to
death according to a pre-ordered plan
which will reach its completion in due time -- a time when all mankind
will have learned the great lessons that sin and death teach us. Then God will restore all to life, not for a
few centuries, but for eternity.
God’s plan holds only one hope for
the liberation of the entire human race. This hope has always been a living hope to God’s chosen people even
centuries before the first advent of Jesus there was a living hope in the resurrection of the dead. Speaking of
God’s ancient chosen people the writer to the Hebrews says, “By faith …. women
received their dead risen to life again.” These words simply mean that they had faith in
that future time when there was promised a resurrection in which they would
receive their departed loved ones alive -- back from the dead.
This
hope was based on God’s promises such as we read in Hosea
Jesus’
resurrection was the only reason for this splendid living hope that, like the
morning star, gives light to the world.
No one before Jesus had been raised from the dead with
any right to
life.
The prophet Elijah had restored a dead boy to life, and Elisha did the
same, but these were not true resurrections but only resuscitation to their
former life, which eventuated in their death again.
Jesus
himself had awakened three persons from death.
But all of these died again because they had no right, as yet, to
eternal life. Jesus was perfect, holy,
sinless and thus not subject to Adamic death as all of us are. He perfectly obeyed the
Mosaic Law, which none before Him had been able to do. Because of His obedience
and being the perfect sacrifice, His ransom
for all was acceptable to the Father.
He suffered death for the salvation of the entire human race.
In
prophesying of Jesus’ redemptive mission, Isaiah wrote, “He
was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the
chastisement of our peace was on him, and with his stripes we are healed…he
shall make his soul (life) an
offering for sin. By his knowledge my
righteous servant shall justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities”
(Isaiah 53:5,
6, 11).
By
his death, Jesus offered a perfect sacrifice. His was a voluntary death. He had
told His disciples of His coming death and resurrection; but they had not
understood the full meaning of His words, therefore, the crucifixion was to
them a terrible shock.
For
Satan, the archenemy of God and mankind, the death of Jesus seemed his greatest
triumph. However, when our Lord rose
from the dead, Satan realized his greatest defeat. Actually, Jesus’ resurrection was the
greatest event in all of history – the most splendid light in this world of
darkness. Such an event reassured the
broken hopes of His disciples, because it was proof and an undeniable
manifestation of His divine power, and as such it filled the hearts of His
disciples with a living hope, peace and joy.
He is Risen
“He is not here,” said the angel to the
sorrowful but surprised women who had come to the sepulcher. “He is Risen!” This great news filled their hearts with
wonder and joy as they ran to bring these tidings to the grieving disciples. After the manifestation
of skepticism by the disciples at this unbelievable news, later in that same evening,
it gave place to joy and wonder when the Lord appeared among them. That day darkness was changed to light
because death had finally been conquered and the brilliant star of the
Resurrection was shining across the sky.
The
Resurrection of our Lord furnishes us the divine assurance of the coming
liberation of all the prisoners in that huge prison-house of death, which is
the grave. Jesus proclaimed in Rev. 1:18, “I have the keys of hell (the grave) and of death,” and in God’s due time, He
will unlock and open wide the gates and free the prisoners. Jesus predicted
this would take place in due time saying, “Marvel
not at this, but the hour is coming in which all those who are in the graves
shall hear my voice and shall come forth (John
In
view of these wonderful promises in God’s Word, we have strong faith in the
promised resurrection of the dead.
Before long we shall see the miracle of billions of the dead returned to
life, and there will be untold families and friends reunited with great joy. At that time, no one will ever die again the
Adamic death – rather there will be a great flood of life and vitality for all,
which will enrich the human family from generation to generation with complete
victory over the forces of evil. In that
new world there will no longer be any temptation for drugs, alcohol and other
vices; no more diseases, hospitals,
funeral parlors or cemeteries; there will be no more constant struggle for
money, privilege or power. All these things
will be gone forever. The return of
Christ will bring undreamed of joy, peace, health and life to all the obedient
in that blessed Kingdom.
In
the resurrection not only will all these wonderful blessings be restored to all
who will obey the laws of the Kingdom on their way back to the perfection that
was lost in Adam, but death itself will be finally destroyed (Isaiah. 25:7, 8;
Rev. 21:1-4). The Apostle Paul in his
glorious vision of the
God’s
Plan will reach its glorious fulfillment, when heaven and earth will again be
united in full harmony under the Fatherhood of God, in a spirit of universal
brotherhood. This grand culmination is
all due to the death and resurrection of our Father’s Beloved Son, Jesus – the
precious Lamb of God, “who takes away the
sin of the world” (John 1:29), the Mediator between God and man (1 Tim.
2:5, 6), the One “Who is worthy to
receive power and riches, and wisdom and strength, and honor and glory and
blessing” (Rev. 5:12)!
Therefore,
let us humble ourselves, laying hold of the mind of
Christ, that in due time the mighty Hand of God may exalt us. Let us place all our plans, anxieties and
problems in His hands, because He cares
for us (1 Peter 5:7).
G. Boccaccio