Christ, The Conqueror of Death

JESUS MADE “OLD DEATH” TO BEHAVE!

Hebrews 2:14-15

Do you really mean it when you quote from the 23^rd Psalm…”and though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil?” When unrelenting spiritual attacks seem to be the norm of the day, when the many media outlets are filled with horrors and atrocities associated with the persecution of Christians, who like you, only wish to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, or when you have received a shocking or terminal report from the doctor, do you squirm or hesitate to quote verse 4 or do you assert with an unwavering faith and trust in God that regardless of what comes, I will not fear death or evil.

In Hebrews 2:14-15, we find these words… “14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,   15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

At the time that the epistle of Hebrews was written, in approximately 67 A.D, the Jewish temple was still standing and the priestly ceremonies were still being done daily. During this same time, Jews who had become Christian believers were going through some rough patches and were being tempted to go back to the Jewish religion to escape persecution. And many of them feared death.

The Hebrew writer was assuring the Jewish believers just as he is assuring us on today, that Jesus, through His own death, has conquered death. In other words, Jesus has made that old death to behave.  Halleuia!

As believers, we are well aware of the fact that HaSatan comes to steal, kill, and to destroy, (John 10:10), however, he does not have power over death. HaSatan can only do what Yahweh God will allow Him to do. And we see this in Job 1:12; 2:6). God gave the direction that the devil could torment Job, but he couldn’t take his life.

But since HaSatan is the author of sin (John 8:44) and because sins brings death (Rom. 6:23), he does wield some power in the realm of death in this world.

And what HaSatan does is he uses the fear of death (shadow) as a tricky weapon to gain control over the lives of people. And Colossians 1:13 tells us that his kingdom is one of darkness and death.

But the good news is that WE CAN PUT OUR TRUST in the fact that only Yahweh God has the final authority over death. (Deut 32:39; Matt 10:28; Rev. 1:18).

We can trust God’s Word in Deut. 32:39 which declares… ‘Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand. 

We as believers can walk through the valley of the shadow of death trusting in the Word coming from the lips of King Jesus when he asserts in Matt. 10:28…. ‘And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.’ Only Jesus has authority over the soul and body, not the devil. Amen!

We can walk with an unwavering faith and trust in the Word as written by John the Revelator when Jesus says this…..”I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” (Rev. 1:18)

So even though there may be seasons where we may have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we should not be in bondage to the fear of death, because we have the victory. We have the victory because the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ have given us the victory!

1 Corinthians 15:55 begs the question…”O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”   Verse 56 answers the question that “The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.   57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.   58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

As we trust God and His unwavering Word, we can walk this thing out called “life,” til He shall call us home.

Please meditate on the words to this old hymn as penned by Louisa Stead.

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His Word; Just to rest upon His promise, And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”

Chorus: Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er; Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! Oh, for grace to trust Him more! 

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; And I know that Thou art with me, Wilt be with me to the end.

Prayer: Papa Yahweh God, in the name of Jesus, we give You Praise, we Honor You, and we Glorify You. We thank you that even when trouble surrounds us and storm clouds rise, we have the sweet assurance or knowing that we can walk through the valley of the shadow of death and even though at times we may be plagued by fear, anxiety, and worry, you promised that you will never leave us nor forsake us in Jesus name, Amen!

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