Death is Swallowed Up!

Read 1 Chronicles 24

Read Isaiah 25

I look forward to the day prophesied in our text. How cruel death is. How broken we feel even before we reach death. How every loss tears at us, making it impossible for us to forget that something in this world is just not right.

This last week we have mourned along with the nation over the tragic shootings in Tucson. And even as we feel saddened and fearful, we know that the affected families feel it so much more. They are devastated.

But are they without hope? Are we without hope? Not according the prophet Isaiah. Today's reading not only speaks about God's sure and certain defeat of his enemies, but also about a peace and a feasting for God's people. And (best of all) death is swallowed up. It is an interesting expression that it will be "swallowed." It doesn't just mean that God will do away with death, but that the complete opposite of the sad reality of death would take place. We are used to seeing death swallow others up. Their life is drained out of them, we put them in the grave, and the ground swallows them up. Death has consumed another victim.

But Death is now the victim. And surprisingly enough, Death dies by consuming the wrong person - Jesus. Yes Jesus, who is life and light, allows himself to be consumed by death. He really, truly, dies and is buried. But Jesus takes his life back up again. He isn't gone, but rather, death is swallowed up by the triumphant Son of God!

And Jesus promises that those of us who are hidden in him will also enjoy the resurrection and everlasting life in heaven. In baptism we are united with Christ in his death so that we might also be united with him in his resurrection. This is our great hope. And while we will never accept and "be ok" with tragedies like the one in Tucson, we can persevere with hope and find a way to cope. For we know that all who die in Christ are with him, and await the resurrection, the day when death will be completely and finally swallowed up in the victory of Jesus Christ. (For more reading on this topic, see Paul's great chapter on the resurrection: 1 Corinthians 15)

Thanks be to God!

Pray:

Pray from your heart today. Pray for all those mourning a great loss, especially those directly affected by the shooting in Tucson. Pray for your family and friends too, that you and they would all rejoice in the victory of Jesus, and will await with great hope the resurrection of the dead and the joyful reunion in heaven.

Study with me tomorrow,

Pastor Jon

Soli Deo Gloria!