Lesson 5: God’s Power Has Defeated Death

1 Corinthians 15:55, 57 - “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?...But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

According to our verses, the great news about Jesus going to the cross was not only that He defeated the devil, He also defeated death itself! In fact, so completely has Jesus defeated death that He reassures us to never, ever, ever even be afraid of death – that is, if you are a Christian.

Hebrews 2:14-15 - "Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”

Have you noticed that everyone is afraid of something in life? For some it is spiders, for others it is high places and for some it is speaking in public. There is one fear that is not only the greatest of all, but also universal for all mankind, and that is the fear of death. You may hardly ever hear anyone talk about it because after all, that is kind of a dark thing to think about. We do not want to think about such a reality and that we are all marching towards the grave at different speeds. The average person just does not want to think about it. This is because deep down inside, like everybody else, they too are scared of death!

Once again, this is the great news of the gospel. Jesus not only destroyed the devil, He defeated death! Through the cross of Christ, mankind's darkest hour has now become his entrance into eternal light! It is only the Christian who is genuinely freed from this fear of death that we all have, because it is only in accepting what Jesus did as He died, that we can share in His victorious, eternal life.


A sick little boy asked his mother one day if it hurt to die. She replied, knowing he did not have long to live, that just as he would sometimes fall asleep on the couch, and then daddy would come and carry him to his room without him waking up, so it would be when he fell asleep here on earth, and his Heavenly Father would take him to his eternal home; and he would simply wake up there.

I think that mother was glad that Jesus defeated death. This knowledge not only comforted her own soul, but the soul of her dying son as well. People, it really is true. Through Jesus Christ, you do not have to be scared of death anymore! Truly give your life to Him and you will see what I mean. I do not know about you, but I say that anyone who could reduce death to a beautiful transition into eternal bliss would be powerful.

This is a wonderful message we get to tell others, showing them how they no longer need to fear death.

* How can you demonstrate to others around you today that God is powerful?