God Speaking

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity, so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death- that is the devil- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”

(Hebrews 2: 14 – 15)

During our church service this week, we sang a beautiful song of praise and one line kept echoing in my mind long after we had returned home. A line that describes the wonder of the cross and what Jesus achieved by his selfless giving of himself to save us from death and to grant us eternal life;

Trampling over death with death

Our sermon was a powerful one on this theme and simply titled, Victory! As Good Friday draws near there are many questions about how this particular day could ever have been described as Good, but when we realise the incredible battle that went on that day and that the end result was Jesus defeating Satan, it surely was a good day, especially for us, the children of God.

This power over death was long promised for the children of God, the prophet, Hosea, encouraged them by telling them that God had promised them he would ransom them from the grave;

“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O, death are your plagues? Where O grave is your destruction?” (Hosea 13: 14 – 15)

Good Friday church services are usually sombre and reflective, and rightly so, but when we remember the victory that was won over the power of evil, we can weep with Jesus through his agony, but rejoice that his sacrifice conquered death. If we see the day as one of only mourning we will miss out on seeing, in wonder, the amazing victory achieved for mankind.

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Colossians 2: 15)

Sorrow mixed with joy can certainly describe Good Friday, but when we add victory to the day, it takes on a whole different meaning for us and our worship on that day can be filled with that power and we can confidently exclaim with all believers;

“But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through the Lord Jesus Christ.”  (1 Corinthians 15: 57)