May 23

Christ hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light. 2 Timothy 1:10.

Conscience tells man that with death all is not over, but that there is a retribution after death at the hands of divine Justice. This is what man fears most. And the shackles of this fear of death he could not shake off. He was thus subject to bondage all his lifetime.

But Christ came and redeemed us from death. How? By His own death on the cross. Yes, Christ must die, the Sinless for the sinners, the Innocent for the guilty. He must pay the wages of sin, which is death, in our place. As the Scriptures say, 2 Corinthians 5:15: “He died for all,” that is, in the place of all. He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. Thus did Christ, by His death, “destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil”; thus did He spoil the devil and take his power over man from him by His death; and thus did He deliver man from the terrible fear that death will plunge him into eternal death and everlasting torment; and thus He robbed death of its sting.

The monster Death lies vanquished, helpless. Or do you doubt this? Do you doubt the power of Jesus to prevail against death? Look what He did at Nain, with the daughter of Jairus, at the tomb of Lazarus! At one word of Jesus the dead were restored to life.

What power of Jesus! Death must crouch and shrink before Him. Upon His command death must deliver up his prey. However, the power of Jesus over death is nowhere so conclusively

shown as in the personal combat of Jesus with the Prince of Terrors, when He Himself entered the dark chambers of death. There the fierce battle was fought with death. Death endeavored with all his strength to hold Jesus in his bonds, but in vain. The Lord's Anointed did not see corruption. He showed Himself the Conqueror of death. Death was overcome. You have been delivered from its power.

Prayer.

We thank Thee, O dearest Lord Jesus, that Thou hast delivered us from death. Thou hast powerfully subdued the last enemy of the fallen human race. Oh, let us fully comprehend and appreciate this great benefit. Let us not refuse to be free. Let us not neglect to appropriate this imperishable gift and fruit of Thy redemption to ourselves by a firm faith. Help us, furthermore, that on this and all our days we may be found in Christian readiness, as we do not know when Thou wilt come or in what place or manner we may be summoned, that we may enter into eternal bliss. Amen.

Be Thou my Consolation And Shield when I must die; Remind me of Thy Passion When my last hour draws nigh. My eyes shall then behold Thee, Upon Thy cross shall dwell, My heart by faith enfold Thee. Who dieth thus, dies well.