He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. Matthew 28:6 NLT
Jesus: “I am the living one. I died, but look – I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.” Revelation 1:18 NLT
God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:13-15 NIV
What a day it was. Satan was on full alert. The soldiers were on guard. The religious leaders were enjoying a few days of relative peace. Jesus was dead and gone, His followers were disheartened and hiding. Just a few more days and this would all be over. But then the sound of quiet breathing came from inside that tomb! Flashes of light and angels appeared to welcome the King of Life as He strode from the tomb! The soldiers fainted in fear. Satan shrieked a vicious howl of defeat and agony, stabbing the ears and shaking the ashen forms of his demonic swarm. They were defeated! Completely. He did not go away.
Satan knew immediately what Jesus’ death and resurrection meant.
First, it was “just as He said.” Jesus’ resurrection proved that the most impossible, implausible, inconceivable promise He made was 100% true. This meant that Jesus could and would do anything He said. Doubters are welcome. Come and see.
Second, Jesus is the One who will NEVER go away. He IS the Living One. Yes – He died, He went away, but He’s back, alive forever and ever! He holds the keys of death and the grave. Once considered the dominion of Satan, they are now in His control forever and forever,
Third, by His death and resurrection, Jesus changed the future forever for every human who puts his or her faith in Him. Because of his infinite hatred of God, Satan hates us, God’s beloved creation. Ever since Adam and Eve believed his lie and mistrusted God, Satan has led people to separation from a holy God. His goal is to steal our lives and futures through sin. But Jesus paid the debt for all our sins! God makes everyone forever alive who put their faith in Him. The cross Satan used to take Jesus’ life is the place where our sins were nailed with Jesus, forever taken away. Satan tried to humiliate and defeat Jesus; instead, Jesus publicly made a spectacle of Satan and those who follow him by using the very plan Satan crafted for Jesus’ defeat to triumph decisively and finally over him on the cross! He is the One who will never lose! He is the One who will never go away!
- “What He's done! What He's done! All the glory and the honor to the Son! My sins are forgiven – My future is heaven! I praise God for what He's done” (Passion). There’s no one like Jesus. He’s the One who never loses, the One who won’t go away.