Artwork by FullofEyes

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Christ said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.“ And the dead man sat up.

᛭ INI ᛭

Christ goes toe to toe with death. The only Son raises the widow’s only son. In His compassion He doesn’t permit death to be the end. He hates death. He defeats death. He will destroy death on the Last Day.

He doesn’t just defeat death. He defeats everything that has to do with death. Christ goes to war with whatever leads up to death and surrounds death. Our first hymn puts it well: “The ranks of death, the Lord of Life, Stood face to face that hour.” It’s not just the funeral procession, though the Lord Christ stops that funeral dead in its tracks. The source and sting of death, Satan, who holds the power of death, and also the symptoms of death—the Lord takes care of them all.

CHRIST DEFEATS ALL THE HOSTS OF DEATH.

(I. Christ defeats the source and sting of death: sin.)

Christ defeats the source and sting of death, that is, he defeats sin! Sin is the source of death. Death is the consequence of your sin. “The wages of sin is death.” (Rom 6) If you die, you have sins, you are a sinner. But Christ takes sin on and pays for it. He “bears our sins in His own body, by His wounds you are healed.” (1-Pet 1) In Christ IHS, we have “redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col 2)

Sin is also the thing that gives death its sting. Death is the constant reminder that we are, in fact, sinners. Death confesses that the coffin carries in its bosom the corpse of another sinner. But for the Christian that sting is carries no lasting pain. “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law, but thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord IHS Christ.” (1 Cor 15)

And you and I do have victory over sin and its consequence: death. Christ’s own death “redeems [your] life from the pit” of hell. “He crowns [you] with [His] mercy and compassion.” (Psalm 103) Christ’s death destroys death, and His resurrection cancels it. In the power of His own Life, and in a promise of His own resurrection from the dead He raised that widows son. Christ also makes the promise to you in Holy Baptism: that sin will not cause the final end of you, that one Day your coffin and grave will be useless because Your sin is paid for and washed away—eternal life is yours.

(Transition.)

CHRIST DEFEATS ALL THE HOSTS OF DEATH. He defeats sin, the source as well as the sting of death. The Lord also defeats Satan.

(II. Christ defeats the lord of death: Satan.)

When CHRIST DEFEATS ALL THE HOSTS OF DEATH, it means He defeats Satan. Christ goes head to head with him who holds the power of death. In fact, this is why Christ becomes man! That’s what Hebrews tells us:

Since the children share in flesh and blood, He also likewise partook of these things, in order that, through His death, He would destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil. (Heb 2)

That Satan holds the power of death is seen in the book of Job, but also the Israelites in Egypt. Pharaoh the great stand-in, even instrument for Satan, who spent his reign seeking to destroy the Israelite Seed, the Descendant of Abraham who would crush his head.

But Satan like Pharaoh wants to keep us enslaved and in his “domain of darkness,” (Col 1) his kingdom of death. From the defense of death for the reborn, to the so-called medical care (mutilation wings) of children hospitals, even to MAID in Canada and around the world. Death, and the culture of death, which is really the fear of death is everywhere! For this Christ came in flesh and blood, “in order that He might redeem those, who were held in slavery to the life-long fear of death.” (Heb 2)

Christ, who is Life itself, brings Life and Immortality to Life. He silences Satan, who’s conquered by the blood of the Lamb, Christ’s blood, God the Son’s blood! This is Christ’s redemption, and He makes us to share and participate in His Life by Baptism. In Baptism we are “transferred out of the domain of darkness into the Kingdom of God’s beloved Son,” (Col 1) “with whom [He is] well pleased.” (Mt 3) This happens.

Satan, hear this proclamation:
I am baptized into Christ.
Drop your ugly accusation;
I am not so soon enticed.
Now that to the font I’ve traveled,
All your might has come unraveled,
And against your tyranny,
God my Lord unites with me. (LSB 594)

But this is also the benefit of Communion, for the fear of death is swallowed not only by Christ’s empty tomb, not only is it drowned like pharaoh’s army in Baptism, it’s silences with a sip of the chalice of Christ’s blood, for He promises: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life and I will resurrect him on the Last Day.” (Jn 6)

(Transition.)

CHRIST DEFEATS ALL THE HOSTS OF DEATH. He defeats the source and sting of death: sin. He defeats Satan, who holds the power of death. Finally, when CHRIST DEFEATS ALL THE HOSTS OF DEATH, He defeats the symptoms of death.

(III. Christ defeats the symptoms of death: sickness, suffering, and sorrow.)

WHEN CHRIST DEFEATS ALL THE HOSTS OF DEATH, He also defeats the symptoms of death. Now, what are the symptoms of death? Well, the symptoms of death are the things that let you know death’s on its way, or it’s something that lets you know death’s already arrived. The symptoms of death are sickness, suffering, and sorrow.

Christ often defeats the symptom of sickness. That was an active part of His ministry: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” (Mt 8) But that’s not always the case. As it was in the days of Elijah and Elisha, many died, many lepers, but only the widow at Zarephath had her son raised, only Naaman was healed. So it was in Christ’s day. Many were sick, and Christ healed all who were brought to him, but not all were brought to Him. So also in our day. Sometimes God’s glory is put on display when a saint is made well. Sometimes GOd’s glory is put on even brighter display when a saint dies well. Thus a Charlie Kirk. Thus a mild-mannered saint on hospice. Or when it comes to suffering and persecution, it has been said that the “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church”

All this is because Christ empties sickness, suffering and sorrow of their power and influence over the Christian. So what if the suffering and sickness lead to death? Christ will raise you from the dead! As Christ told Paul, “My power is made perfect in weakness.” (2-Cor 12) Why be sorrowful? Christ’s tomb really was empty because He really came back to life on the Third Day. “We do not grieve like others do who have no hope.” (Phil 4) After all, “the LORD is your light and salvation, whom shall you fear? The LORD is the stronghold of your life, of whom shall you be afraid?” (Psalm 27)

Christ’s blood and death and empty tomb gives us the promise and the hope that one day every casket will be like that one in Nain! Every believer will be raised at the Lord’s final “I say to you arise!” And you’ll arise to live forever with Christ. Of this His Supper is further promise and comfort. “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life and I will resurrect him on the Last Day.” (Jn 6) The Supper is “the medicine that gives eternal life. It is the antidote to not die but to live in IHS Christ forever.” (Ignatius, Ephesians 2:20)

(Conclusion.)

Christ went toe to toe with death. The only Son raised the widow’s only son. But because He stopped that funeral dead in its tracks we know that

CHRIST DEFEATS ALL THE HOSTS OF DEATH.

There’s no reason to be afraid of death, like we often are! Such fear is to treat death as if its god and not Christ who is the LORD and Life and death. Christ is the Prince of Life, who sends death away and all His hosts.

Christ defeats your sin, which is the source and sting of death. He paid for your sins and for your fear of death. He defeated Satan by shedding His own blood unto death. He stills and silences any sorrow that follows death; He softens any sickness or suffering that precedes it. Death “is a powerless form, howe’er it rage and storm!” (LSB 457)

CHRIST DEFEATS ALL THE HOSTS OF DEATH with His own death and His resurrection from the dead. The victory over death and all his hosts is also given to you through our Lord IHS Christ. Baptism says that you indeed have eternal life—trust Christ’s life giving Word and water. Christ’s body and blood are the medicine that gives the promise of resurrection and even “strengthens and keeps you unto life everlasting.” His promise is true, you can go all in on it: “Whoever eats and drinks I will resurrect.” And on the Last Day He will call to you “I say to you, arise,” and He’ll cast death and Satan into hell forever and “wipe away every tear from your eye.” (Rev 22)

᛭ INI ᛭