Jul 31

Jesus dared to claim ahead of time that when he died that death would not be able to hold him, that he would come back to life again. He made this claim publicly, and after his enemies had indeed killed him, they sealed his tomb and guarded it with soldiers to make sure that no one would steal his body and claim that he had made good on his promise to rise from the dead (see Matt. 27:62-66).

These people had one view of reality, the world's view, which says that death is the end. But the man they killed had another view, that he was himself the ultimate reality and therefore he had authority even over death. Death was not the ultimate reality; he was.

"I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one takes it fromme, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father" (John 10:17, 18).

Jesus is God and God is stronger than death. That is why death could not hold him in the grave. Now Jesus offers us that same amazing power which he has in himself. He said that he is the truth (John 14:6) and by trusting in his ability to conquer death for us, that we could know the truth and that the truth would set us free (John 8:32).

Through Jesus, we are set free from sin and its final result, death.

Scripture for today: John 8:31, 32
Thought for today: Jesus is the truth that sets us free from sin and death.
Prayer for today: Lord Jesus, thank you for setting me free from death.

JUL 31