How did Jesus overcome death?
We read in John 19:30, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, IT IS FINISHED: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” The Lord Jesus cried victoriously from the cross, declaring that the work was done. His cry showed that the wrath of God upon Him for our sins was now exhausted and His suffering time was over. Three words spoken that changed the world and signified a completed work. IT IS FINISHED! These three words are translated from only one word in the Greek: ‘teleo’. This same Greek word is translated as ‘pay’ in Matthew 17:34, ‘accomplished’ in Luke 12:50, and ‘fulfilled’ in Acts 13:29. So, we might think of Christ crying out from the cross, PAID, ACCOMPLISHED, FULFILLED. We learn in Ephesians 5:2 that, “…Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” He offered Himself to God as payment of our sin debt…and there on the cross, He declared that that payment had been made and PAID IN FULL. Three words of great importance: IT IS FINISHED.
Let’s consider three more words of equal importance. Matthew 28:6 says, “He is not here: for HE IS RISEN, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” Three words spoken that show us that our dying savior is dead no more, and assure us that the Lord Jesus defeated death, never to die again. Christ spoke of Himself in Revelation 1:18 by saying, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore.” HE IS RISEN.
Is it fair to say that the resurrection of Christ is just as important as the death of Christ? I believe it is. 1 Corinthians 15:14-17 tells us, “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And IF CHRIST BE NOT RAISED, YOUR FAITH IS VAIN; YE ARE YET IN YOUR SINS.” So important is the resurrection of Christ, that it is part of a true Gospel message, and must be believed in order to be saved. Romans 10:9 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt BELIEVE IN THINE HEART THAT GOD HATH RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, thou shalt be saved.” If Christ had not died, there would be no salvation. If Christ had not been raised, there would be no salvation.
How did Jesus overcome death and rise from the grave? An event of this magnitude and importance involved all three persons of the Godhead…the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
- THE FATHER – Galatians 1:1, “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God THE FATHER, WHO RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD.”
- THE SON – John 10:17-18, “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I MIGHT TAKE IT AGAIN. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I HAVE POWER TO TAKE IT AGAIN. This commandment have I received of my Father.”
- THE HOLY SPIRIT – Romans 8:11, “But if THE SPIRIT OF HIM THAT RAISED UP JESUS FROM THE DEAD dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
Before closing, I want to speak briefly of the fact that when Christ was raised from the dead, so were all His redeemed ones. Ephesians 2:4-6, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath QUICKENED US TOGETHER WITH CHRIST, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath RAISED US UP TOGETHER, and MADE US SIT TOGETHER in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” What incredible truth! In the eyes of the Lord, in unity with Christ, we were quickened (made alive), raised up, and now we sit together with Him in the Heavenlies. RIGHT NOW…we are seated with Christ! Let’s meditate upon that and realize that CHRIST DEFEATED DEATH FOR US BY DYING. (273.8)