Our Daily Bread Designs Forum Bible Verse Thursday #74 - The Day Death Died

“Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~1 Corinthians 15:57

In the villages of Northern India a missionary was preaching in a bazaar. As he closed, a Muslim gentleman came up and said, "You must admit we have one thing you have not, and it is better than anything you have."  The missionary smiled and said, "I should be pleased to hear what it is." 
The Muslim said, "You know when we go to Mecca we at least find a coffin. But when you Christians go to Jerusalem, which is your Mecca, you find nothing but an empty grave."  But the missionary just smiled and said, "That is just the difference. Mohammed is dead; Mohammed is in the coffin.”

For a time in the history of the world it may have appeared to some that death would reign.

You know, it seemed like God was on the losing end. He created life human life in the Garden of Eden, a place of perfection and harmony.  But Satan tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit and Adam joined in too. Before this, death was just a word, a concept, an experience completely unknown.

As a result of the disobedience of Adam and Eve, death became a reality for everyone.  The Bible offers a glimmer of hope:  But God said this to the serpent: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)

When Christ came on the scene, we see that He had power over the enemy.  It seemed like maybe God had the upper hand after all. Jesus resisted Satan’s temptations, he drove out his demons – he even had power over Satan’s greatest weapon – death.  First, He brought a widow’s son back to life (Luke 7:11-17), then he did the same for Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:49-56) and later, perhaps most dramatically, He raised Lazarus from the dead, calling him out of the tomb, grave-clothes and all! (John 11:38-44)

Yes, Jesus had power over death. Death was no match for him. People had feared for centuries that death was a stone cold grip, from which no one could escape. And Jesus very calmly asserted His authority over it. Maybe this irreversible event could finally be undone!

But then Jesus himself was put to death. The one who raised people to life was raised up on a cross  and it looked like death would still reign after all. But the reason we’re here today, is because death didn’t get the final word.

But God raised him from the dead.

Earlier in this chapter, the Apostle Paul shouts defiantly… “Where, O death is your victory?” Of course, there’s no answer so he asks again…“Where, O death is your sting?” (Again, No reply) (1 Corinthians 15: 55)

Why is there no reply?  Because God raised Jesus from the dead, proving once and for all that He is ultimately and officially in control of what’s going on with life and death.  Paul implies that death left its sting in Jesus, just like a bee leaves its stinger in its victim.  A bumblebee without its stinger still looks fierce, but it can’t really do you any harm. The same is true of death – it looks ferocious, but because Jesus defeated it, death has no sting.

You see, God promises to raise us too when we we’ve come into a saving relationship with Jesus.   Jesus suffered what appeared to be a momentary defeat so that we could claim victory with Him. Pretty humbling isn’t it.

“Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

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Your challenge this week is to create a project that reminds us that He gave us victory over death.  When uploading your project, please use keyword ODBDBVT74 and then hop over to Our Daily Bread Designs Forum to share it with us! 

Supplies for this project

Cardstock:  Truly Yours – White Card Base; Bazzill – Kiwi, Pink

Decorative Paper:  BoBunny – Country Gardens

Stamps:  Our Daily Bread Designs – Scripture Collection 10

Inks, Stains, Paints & Colored Pencils:  Versafine – Onyx Black; Ranger Distress Ink – Tattered Rose;  Ranger Distress Stain – Spun Sugar

Dies, Punches & Embossing Folders:  Spellbinders Die; Fiskars – Small Butterfly Punch

Accessories & Other Stuff:  Tim Holtz Idea-ology – Crinkle Ribbon; Wild Orchid Roses & Pearl Stem 

Blessings,