When this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place:  Death has been swallowed up in victory.    1 Corinthians 15:54

Because Jesus Christ was willing to die for your sins and my sins, death was defeated or as Paul said in our Scripture passage, it was swallowed up in victory. Through Him we can be more than victorious as we are told in Romans 8:37. On Calvary Jesus defeated, sin, death and the devil. Because of what He did for us we can do the same.

We can conquer sin. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, we are told that no temptation has overtaken us except what is common to man. We are also assured of God’s faithfulness and know that He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. We are also assured that He will provide a way of escape so that we are able to bear it.

From the time Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, we could see God had a plan for our salvation. In Genesis chapter 3 verse 15, God told the serpent, “I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will strike your head and you will strike his heel.”

Jesus was present from the beginning. In Genesis 1:26 God said, “Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” Our here refers to the trinity, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Jesus left heaven to come down to earth as a human being. We are told in Philippians 2:5-8, “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead, He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death-even to death on a cross.”

We know from Luke 22:42 when Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane for God to take this cup away from Him that He did not want to suffer the humiliation, torture, and pain that He was about to face. But we also know He was willing to do God’s will. He was willing to humble Himself by becoming obedient even to death on a cross.

Jesus did all of this so we could be saved from our sin. He died even for those who were His enemies.

Today we celebrate Good Friday, the day Jesus died on the cross to save you and me. Sunday, we will celebrate His resurrection as He defeated death. He has removed the sting of death for us. He has made it possible for us to defeat death if we will only surrender our lives to Him.

Trust in Him today. Don’t get so wrapped up in the eggs and baskets and bunny rabbits that you forget the true meaning of Easter. Remember that Jesus was tortured and killed so that we may be saved. What you do with that is up to you.

But there is coming a day when He will come back for those of us who have believed in Him and surrendered our lives to Him. Will you be ready? Are you willing to humble yourself to becoming obedient? Are you willing to die to your old sinful self so that you can be a new creature in Christ?

He defeated death so we can have eternal life. I beg of you to take advantage of this awesome gift before it’s too late.

Have a great day!