“Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 

(1 Corinthians 15:55-58)

As we are in the midst of Holy Week, the anticipation for Sunday is palpable in many ways. 

Perhaps you are spending the week reading one of the gospel accounts of Jesus’ Passion. Or wondering about how He was betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, and condemned by Pilate. Or maybe you are thinking through those dark hours leading up to the darkest moment of all, when Jesus breathed His last. 

Jesus suffered a gruesome, physical death in order to be the Sacrifice for the world. To be the Way through which all those who call on His Name can be united once again to the Father. Even though we know how it ends. Even though we know that Jesus is God, it is still so hard to imagine how He suffered on our behalf.  

After the difficult day of Friday, we must wait patiently through Saturday. 

But when Sunday dawns, it is time to rejoice and to exclaim with unhindered delight, “He Is Risen!” Jesus conquered the grave! The tomb was empty. Jesus overcame death and was resurrected. 

While it is important to meditate on and be sober about the price that Jesus paid, Paul reminds his readers that there is victory through the cross! Through Jesus’ death, comes eternal life. In the earlier parts of this chapter, we looked at the importance of knowing and understanding that we too, can have hope in eternal life which will come when we are resurrected one day. 

This model of discipleship that Jesus provides offers freedom for us to “pick up our cross daily and follow Him.” We don’t need to be afraid to die to ourselves. To lay down our plans and desires in order to co-laborers with Him to accomplish His.

With this in view, Paul exhorts us to have an immovable faith in our Savior and Lord in the midst of temporal difficulties we may face. He reminds readers to “Stand firm” in the faith and follow the Way of Jesus and be a winsome witness to a lost and hurting world. 

Lord Jesus, thank you that you chose to lay down your life to be a ransom for many. You have demonstrated through your life, death and resurrection that there is power in the Cross of Christ for all who call on Your Name. May Your will be done in and through us for the Glory of Your Name! - Amen.