"No son of man could conquer death, such ruin sin had wrought us. No innocence was found on earth, and therefore death had brought us, Into bondage from of old and ever grew more strong and bold, And held us as its captive. Alleluia!
"Christ Jesus, God's own Son, came down, His people to deliver; Destroying sin, He took the crown from death's pale brow forever: Stripped of pow'r, no more it reigns; an empty form alone remains; Its sting is lost forever. Alleluia!"
Scripture tells us this sad truth: "Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life" (Psalm 49:7). It is not possible. We could never afford the cost, but from what must we be ransomed? A price had to be paid to set us free from death. The necessary payment would ensure that we "should live on forever and never see the pit" (Psalm 49:9). The impossible price had to be paid to free us from the grasp of death.
Some people may try to ransom themselves from death. Many researchers develop medicines for healing; others try to find ways to extend life beyond what is usually experienced. There are people who hope someday to join their minds to computers and enable themselves to "conquer" death in that way. But death overcomes every human effort to defeat it. Our hymn expresses the sorrow we feel over our fallen condition and our inability to escape death: "No son of man could conquer death, such ruin sin had wrought us." In Eden, God decreed death as the penalty for sin. Without God's help, no one can escape that penalty because "no innocence was found on earth." Only someone innocent of all sin could pay the ransom for the sins of others and conquer death.
"Christ Jesus, God's own Son, came down." Jesus, true God and true Man, had no sins of His own for which He deserved to die. He carried our sins on His own body on the cross, suffering the penalty of death in our place. Only the innocent Son of God could pay that costly ransom, as the psalmist foretold: "But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me" (Psalm 49:15). It is true that we will, from an earthly point of view, experience death. Yet for all who trust in Jesus, to die is to fall asleep in Jesus and to be immediately at home with our Lord. When Jesus returns on the Last Day, our bodies will be raised from death and transformed into glory. The price has been paid in full, "not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1:18b-19a). Death has been defeated because Jesus paid the ransom for us. Jesus has risen and we too will rise!
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, You ransomed me from the power of death. I will praise You forever. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, "Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands," which is number 458 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. Is it possible to ransom ourselves from death in an eternal way?
2. What has God ransomed us from exactly? How did He do this?
3. How does knowing that Jesus gave His life for you impact the way you think and live?
Today's Bible Readings: Proverbs 2-4 John 19:23-42
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