"The pow'rs of death have done their worst, But Christ their legions hath dispersed. Let shouts of holy joy outburst. Alleluia!

"He broke the age-bound chains of hell; The bars from heav'n's high portals fell. Let hymns of praise His triumph tell. Alleluia!"

The powers of death and the devil had "done their worst" to Jesus. The Son of God hung lifeless on the cross. Satan had been trying for a long time to destroy Jesus and His ministry, first using King Herod, who tried to murder the Christ Child after wise men came to find the new King of the Jews. Religious leaders who opposed Jesus sought to trap the Savior in His words and wanted to stone Him to death. Finally, Jesus was arrested, condemned, and crucified. Perhaps the ancient serpent thought he had won his war against the Word, a war that began long ago in Eden.

The devil is a deadly enemy, but he does not know everything. He is, after all, a created being, a fallen angel. Jesus was condemned and crucified, not as a result of Satan's schemes, but "according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God" (Acts 2:23b). It was the plan of God in place before the events in the Garden of Eden, before the world was created. According to the same plan of God, on the third day after His death Jesus rose from the dead and "broke the age-bound chains of hell." The risen Savior triumphed over the devil and his unholy legions, over death itself. Jesus had done what He came to do, destroying the works of the devil and delivering us from sin and death (see Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 John 3:8). During this Easter season, our hymns of praise ring out and "His triumph tell."

Jesus' victory is our victory, but we still struggle against sin and evil in this world as Satan, whose final doom is sealed, tries to do his worst. He could not destroy the Savior, but the foe still wars against Jesus' body, the church. The ancient serpent still wields the very effective weapons of sin, guilt, and shame. But we oppose him with the shield of faith and the certainty that our sins are forgiven. Even when the evil foe tries to do his worst to us, he cannot overcome us. Through Jesus' death and resurrection, "we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37b). We rejoice in our Lord's victory with "shouts of holy joy." It is the holy joy we share with one another in our greeting: "Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!" Even when our Easter celebrations are done, it is the holy joy that is always held deeply within our hearts.

WE PRAY: Jesus, You have conquered in the fight. Lead me to walk in Your ways in a life that reflects holy joy in Your victory. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, "The Strife is O'er, the Battle Done," which is number 464 in the Lutheran Service Book.

Reflection Questions:

1. How do you combat the devil and his deadly schemes? Do you have spiritual tactics of your own you use to lean on God during these times?

2. How has Jesus' death and resurrection "broke the age-bound chains of hell" in your life?

3. How does knowing that "we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" give you strength to live victoriously?

Today's Bible Readings: 1 Samuel 13-14    Luke 19:28-48

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