DEATH IS CONQUERED, HALLELUJAH!

Dearly Beloved, DEATH IS CONQUERED, HALLELUJAH! “So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ’O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55 NKJV). One of the not-so-popular hymns of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is “DEATH IS CONQUERED, HALLELUJAH!” composed by William Edie Marks who was born in July 1872 and died on November 20, 1954. George C. Hugg published the hymn in 1890 in “Festal Chimes”. The hymn may not be popular as many other hymns commonly sung during Easter, yet, its 3-stanza lyrics are very comforting. The hymn starts with a call to wake and sing because Jesus Christ has risen from the grave. Because death is conquered by His resurrection, we have a given hope some time: we will escape from death’s dark prison. Because He has robbed death of its terror, every fear has gone forever from us. Because He is the hope of our salvation, every land and every nation have to now join in the song of jubilation. Death is conquered, hallelujah! Christ is risen. This hymn re-echoes the biblical truths about the victory of Jesus Christ over death through His resurrection. When the Roman soldiers crucified Jesus Christ, and He died on the cross, death and the devil thought they have conquered the Source of life (compared Acts 3:15). The then constituted authority even tried to guard His tomb so that there would not be any form of resurrection or stealing of His dead body (see Matthew 27:62-66). Humanly speaking, there is no hope again. Job even said, “If a man dies, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14 NKJV). No wonder, the disciples of Jesus Christ locked themselves up in a room disappointed that their Messiah was gone, and found it difficult to believe His resurrection story (see Luke 24:11). However, Jesus Christ died and was buried, went to the grave to make proclamation to the spirits in prison (see 1 Peter 3:18-19), and resurrected on the third day thereby conquering death, the devil, and his cohorts! Matthew 28:2-4 vividly described how He rose and how the guards that were keeping watch over His tomb became like dead men. Apostle Paul declared, “‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ’O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55 NKJV). Death is conquered, hallelujah! The implication of this is that every true believer in Christ will also have the victory over sin, death and the devil (see Job 19:25; John 11:25-26; Romans 6:4-5, 8-11; 8:11; 1 Corinthians 6:14; 15:21-22, 57; Colossians 1:27; 1 Peter 1:3-4). This is a living hope – a hope of glory! (see Colossians 1:27; 1 Peter 1:3). Death is conquered, hallelujah! Do you have the assurance of this if you die today? Celebrating Easter will be meaningless if you do not have this assurance. Happy Easter celebration! In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will be sure of the victory of Jesus Christ over death in your life.