Jesus: The Conqueror of Death

Introduction

The Bible speaks of death as our enemy. Death is universal in its scope. We only have to read the Bible to discover the sorrow and pain death brings to a home. Abraham wept at the death of his beloved Sarah. David wept at the death of his son Absalom.  The two sisters of Lazarus wept at his death.  Even Jesus wept with them. We have grief and sorrow of heart today too!

We are reminded of the words of Paul who said: “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them who are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others who have no hope.”

Our hope is not just wishful thinking but is founded upon infallible truths of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

I. Jesus Defied Death.

Early in Jesus’ ministry He said: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19) He was speaking of His body. Jesus was making it clear He had power over death. He later said: “I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” (John 10:17-18)  Jesus prayed from the cross: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46) He had control of His own death.

II. Jesus Defeated Death.

The Bible teaches that Jesus took on a human body for the purpose of death, that He “might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” (Heb. 2:14) Jesus’ resurrection destroyed the power of death to hold its victim.

“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 15:54-57

Christ Arose

Vainly they seal the dead,

Jesus my Lord!

Death cannot keep his prey,

Jesus, my Savior!

He tore the bars away,

Jesus my Lord!

Chorus     Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o’er His foes;

He arose a victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever With His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah! Christ arose!

III. Jesus Delivers From Death.

The Bible states that “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Physical death is the experience of everyone. Death occurs to those who belong to God and to those who do not belong to Him. Death speaks of separation. The lost are separated from God for all eternity. They are cast into the “lake of fire.” The Bible calls this the “second death.” Jesus delivers from the second death or eternal death all those who are His. Their names are written in the “book of life.” A person’s name is recorded in the “book of life” at the moment he experiences the new birth.

Death could not hold Jesus in the grave and neither will death imprison the body of the saved. The bodies of the saved will be raised up. At the tomb of Lazarus Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” Paul said, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Cor. 15:51-52) Again in I Thessalonians Paul wrote: “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” (1 Thes. 4:17)

Jesus said, “The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live.” (John 5:25)

Conclusion

In Psalms 23 David said, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me.” In Psalms 48:14 we read, “For this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even unto death.” 

Someone has beautifully suggested that this verse could be rendered: “This God is our God from eternity to eternity. He will be our guide even unto death, over death, and beyond death.”

“I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen, and have the keys to hell and of death. (Rev. 1:18)