The Resurrection
.png)
He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. Do you fear death? In some ways the fear of death is common to us all? What is it like when we breath our last breath? What happens in those moments between this life and the next? We are painfully aware that we go alone through that portal without company from this life. Most of us don’t like to think much about this and our culture has made it a point not to look into the face of death but avoid it as much as possible. But death is not something we can avoid no matter how good our cosmetics. So, what do we do? How can we prepare? Is there anyone who can go before us and defeat death itself? The Bible’s answer to those questions is ... YES! Jesus our brother has gone ahead of us. In the book of Isaiah we read, “On this mountain the LORD of hosts ... will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all the nations. He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces . . .” In the Apostles creed we recite that Jesus descended to the dead and then rose again on the third day. There are two points here that deal with our fear of death. First, Jesus descended. While there is much that could be said about this, I would just like to point out the core truth that Jesus, as your substitute, has gone ahead of you and me and experienced everything we experience. He is a complete Savior. He lived for us. He died in our place. He was buried. He went into the grave descending into the realm of the dead. He was raised. Jesus has experienced all of it for us and in our place. There are several passages that are worth noting about Jesus’ death. First, Jesus said, “as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the fish, so the Son of Man would be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Second, the writer of Hebrews says that Jesus, “suffered death ... that he might taste death for everyone.” These verses teach us that Jesus experienced the full reality of death in our place. We have a Savior who has gone ahead of us. He knows what it feels like to take a final breath. He knows what it feels like to commit his spirit into the hands of another. He knows the sorrow of leaving loved ones behind. He understands it all. The second point here in this part of the creed is that he rose from the dead. Rather than thinking about the historicity of the resurrection I want to consider what the truth of the resurrection means for us. Isaiah says, he will swallow up death forever. How so? First, the resurrection tells us who Jesus really is. The resurrection is concrete proof that Jesus really was the Messiah. Not a pretender, lunatic or mere martyr. The resurrection is the divine sign that Jesus is Messiah and Lord (Acts 2:34, 17:31). Since Jesus is the Lord, as Peter says, he will not see decay (Psalm 16:10, Acts 2:27). Second, the resurrection means that the new age has already begun. When Jesus was at Lazarus’ tomb he said to Martha, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha thought Jesus was giving a consolation that at the end of time he would rise.” But Jesus responded, with “I am the resurrection and the life.” When Jesus was then raised from the dead it signifies that the age of the resurrection has begun. He is the firstborn from among the dead (Colossians 1:18). Jesus goes on to say “the hour is here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live . . . “whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgement but has passed from death to life.” This means that in believing the Gospel we come into the life of God now. The resurrection of Jesus guarantees that we have life now and will be resurrected bodily when Jesus comes again. The resurrection age has already dawned. More is sure to come but it has begun and means that the new creation has landed in this broken world and is available to all who will believe. One final thought, the resurrection of Jesus gives meaning and significance to all our labor and work in the Lord. It is very easy to lose sight and get discouraged. The forces of evil are great and unrelenting. It is easy to grow weary and be tempted to give up. But Paul, at the end of his discussion of the resurrection in I Corinthians 15 ends it with these words, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” May I encourage you today, death has been swallowed up forever, we need not fear, the Lord has gone ahead of us and while we wait may we labor knowing it is not in vain.