Loosing the Pangs of Death

“Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them:.. ‘Let this be known to you, and give ear to my words… 

“’Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst..— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it… David says concerning him,

“‘You will not abandon my soul to Hades,
    or let your Holy One see corruption…’

“Brothers, I say with confidence about the patriarch David that he died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ… This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.  Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing… 

“Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

“Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said.., ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.'” Acts 2:14,22-25,27,29-33,36-39

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

The three years of all their experiences following Jesus had marked the disciples forever, but nothing like His resurrection did. Starting life anew without Jesus in the flesh, they were indelibly imprinted with the power of His resurrection and majesty of His ascension. This overwhelming exhibit of divine victory would identify all they did and said from here on, and now energized by the Holy Spirit, would make an eternal difference in the world. That’s what resurrection does.

Jesus’s divine fulfillment of all that had been foretold, and the impact of His final words from the cross, loosed the pangs of death forever. His work of teaching, forgiving, and providing was completed, and the Son of Man returned to His Heavenly Father as eternal Victor. He bore the pangs of death to the ultimate so we need not any longer. Alleluia, what a Savior! (Mark 15:34; Luke 23:34,43-46; John 19:26-28,30)

What does this loosing mean for the child of God? To know that His resurrection conquered death urges us to live free of shame, past hurts, bitterness over consequences innocently borne. We can see all that is difficult in new light of the Risen Son.

How will we apply Christ’s victory over death? What fresh hope or expectation can motivate daily conquering of sinful habits? What forgiveness received compels forgiveness issued? How will we radiate the Spirit of Christ anew through intentional, steadfast, resurrection living?

Lord, live Your victorious life through me, to Your glory.