“Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:55-56
Jesus’ disciples had just had the worst possible three days of their life. Their hopes were shattered. The Messiah was dead! Crucified by Romans. They mourned and wept as they huddled together behind closed doors. For Peter it was probably even worse than for the others. He had betrayed his Rabbi. He had wept bitter tears already. Suddenly the women burst into the room. “The grave is empty! His body is gone! The angel told us: He has risen!” Peter and John rose up and ran to the tomb. It was true! His body was gone. Only the stained linen cloths remained. Then Jesus appeared to Mary, and to Peter, and to the ten, and to the two on their way to Emmaus. Then to the ten and Thomas. Then to James, his half-brother. Then to more than five hundred brothers! Jesus was alive! This was the most astonishing thing they have ever seen, and they have seen hundreds of healings, deliverances, and Lazarus, Jairus’ daughter and the widow’s son raised from the dead. But Jesus! God raised Him from the dead! He had a new body! They were witnesses of something that would change the world forever. Death as been defeated. Jesus is alive! Death, where is your victory? Where is your sting? Jesus is alive!
This testimony and message was the core of the gospel the apostles preached in the Book of Acts. Then Saul, the persecutor, saw the risen Jesus and was immediately converted. This was the greatest message of all time. This was the hope every human being has been waiting for since the Fall in the Garden of Eden. Death has been defeated. Jesus is alive! Is there any better message? Jesus is alive! Let’s go tell it far and wide. Death has been defeated! Jesus is alive! Would you be able to keep that message for yourself? I bet not.
The Gospel according to Paul: 1 Corinthians 15. The Resurrection of Christ. “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of FIRST IMPORTANCE what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that HE WAS RAISED ON THE THIRD DAY in accordance with the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared also to me.”