The Sting of Death

1 Corinthians 15:54-57

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The story is told of a father and son driving through the countryside on a warm spring afternoon, windows down, hair blowing in the breeze. Suddenly a bumble bee flew in through the window. The little boy was terrified because he was deathly allergic to bumblebees. The father reached out his hand, grabbed the bee. And then let it go. When he let it go, the boy was once again terrified, but the father again reached out his hand and showed it to his son. There in the middle of his palm was the sting of the bumblebee. That bee could no longer hurt his little boy.

That’s a picture of what Jesus has done for you and for me with death. In First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Paul wrote.

Death is swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your sting? Grave, where is your victory? 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 Jesus Christ! (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)

When Jesus suffered and died on the cross, he was taking the sting of your sins into his own body. The Bible is clear that the consequences of sin is death. So Jesus took your sins and he suffered the death that you deserve. And now he has emptied death of it’s sting. See, if your sins are forgiven, if you believe in Jesus, death has no victory over you. In fact, through faith in Jesus, your death is now turned into the doorway to heaven. That’s a good thing.

So death has no victory because its sting has been taken away. So don’t be afraid of it. Don’t be afraid of death. Trust in Jesus. He has taken that sting so that you can live with him forever in heaven. God grant you a rich measure of faith so that even in the face of death, you’re at peace because Jesus has forgiven you.

To him be the glory now and forever, amen.