Last July, six year-old Bridger Walker threw himself in front of a mean dog to shield his little sister from certain death. After the dog tore open his face, he still got her to safety. When asked why he did it, he said that as the big brother, “If someone had to die, I thought it should be me.” Isn’t this what Jesus determined at Gethsemane and Calvary that He must do for us? Just as the scars that Bridger carries are a reminder of the love he has for his sister, Jesus, being fully God, shields us from certain death by rising from the grave.
I. Luke 24:1-7. At the tomb, Jesus conquered our death problem. Because we’ve all sinned (Romans 3:23), we’ve all earned death, but the gift of eternal life can now come to us because Jesus conquered death (Romans 6:23). He was fully man to be our sacrifice, yes, but He was fully God to be our Savior. We no longer need to be held in slavery to our fear of death because Jesus conquered (Hebrews 2:14-16).
II. 1 Corinthians 15:1-26. At the tomb, Jesus had to be fully God to be our Savior. The leaders of every other world religion died; only in Christianity do we serve a risen Savior. Jesus reveals His divinity by promising to raise Himself from the dead (John 2:18-22). On Pentecost, Peter confirms this by stating that God raised Him (Acts 2:22-24). Because Jesus was fully God, the gospel can save us.
III. 1 Corinthians 15:42-57. We can rise with Jesus who was fully God to be our Savior. We, who die in Christ, will also live in Him. Because death has been conquered, we can have victory in Jesus. But we must obey. Jesus’ work at the cross and at the tomb is ours to obey (Romans 6:3-5). Because Jesus overcame death, He became our source of eternal salvation if we obey (Hebrews 5:7-9).
As noble as Bridger Walker’s saving of his sister was, Jesus’ conquering of death for all who obey the gospel is a better salvation story. Have you obeyed it?