The Bible presents us with a sobering reality: “Each person is destined to die once, and after that comes judgment.” We see this played out every day; in one moment we celebrate a newborn’s first breath, and in the next, we say goodbye to a loved one stepping into eternity.
But Paul’s letter to the Corinthians rings out with a defiant challenge: “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” Because of Jesus, death—humanity’s oldest and most feared enemy—has been defeated. The “sting” of sin has been pulled. We no longer face the grave with terror, but with the assurance of a transition into His presence. In this session, we flourish in the knowledge that our future is secure, celebrating the victory that even the grave could not contain.
“Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won’t stay there. You can nail it to a cross, wrap it in winding sheets and shut it up in a tomb, but it will rise!”
John Stott:
Take a moment to visualize the empty tomb. The stone is rolled away, the linens are folded, and the “sting” of death is gone forever. If death—the ultimate end—has no power over you, what small, daily fears are you still allowing to hold you back?