(originally posted to Airdrie Ebenezer
Evangelical Church 12 April 2020)
When I was younger, myself and my wee brother had an Atari ST (a
1980s version of an Xbox!) It was our pride and joy. Over the years we
collected a lot of games, and found that many of them had a familiar pattern;
you would defeat the bad guys successfully as you progressed before meeting the
‘end of level baddie’. This baddie was bigger, stronger and scarier than those
that had come before. The end of game baddie was the biggest and the baddest
and the scariest of all. Usually we couldn’t beat this baddie, but sometimes we
could cheat it (cheat codes could usually be obtained at school) How happy we
were when we managed to win!
As we walk through the gospel accounts of the life and work of
Jesus we see him display his authority over things which seem to us to be
enormously powerful and fearsome. The wind and the waves are stilled with a
word from his lips. Illness bows the knee before him as the sick are made well.
Demons and the spiritual forces of darkness are no match for his might- fleeing
at his command. But the thing which frightens us most, is death.
In 1 Corinthians 15 the apostle Paul argues for the truth and
the importance of the resurrection of Christ. He reminds them of that which he
proclaimed:
3 “that Christ died for our sins
according to the Scriptures, 4
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the
Scriptures, 5 and that he
appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.”
Even death bows the knee before King Jesus! He who was dead is
alive forevermore! And this victory is not just for Jesus, it is for all who
trust in him. Our sins were nailed to his cross. When Goliath fell the victory
wasn’t just for David- it was for all of God’s people- those who had stood
terrified in the presence of such a foe.
Jesus’ victory is your victory if he is your Lord and Saviour.
Death has been defeated. It has become the doorway to life in the presence of
your Lord.
Paul goes on to remind the Corinthians that when Christ comes
again death will be ‘destroyed’ (or ‘entirely removed’)
25 “For he
must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed
is death.”
Easter is a time for looking back to the resurrection of our
Lord with gratitude and joy. It is also a time for looking forward to the day
he returns to make all things new, then “There will be no more death or
mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will have has passed
away.”
We cannot beat our final enemy in our own strength or goodness,
we cannot cheat death and yet we have no need to live in fear, our greatest
enemy has been toppled and his presence will soon be utterly removed by King
Jesus. Are you trusting in Him?
If so, rejoice this Easter, and always!
Yours in His service
Ross