“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” — 1 Corinthians 15:55 KJV

In hell the celebration had begun about 3:00 p.m. the previous Friday. The banquet hall had been the scene of continuous revelry for more than twenty-four hours. The greatest victory celebration of all time was in progress. The music continued to be loud and raucous. The dancing was becoming increasingly lewd as the jokes grew more and more vulgar. Congratulations were being heaped on the host by every guest as they tried to ingratiate themselves to him. Toast after toast was offered to honor the treachery that allowed him to win such a great victory.

This was the all-out, no-holds-barred victory party of all time. After all, this gathering was commemorating the most significant event to occur since the creation of the universe.

Jesus was dead!

Satan had won the battle. Evil was more powerful than good. The heavenly foe was forever defeated. Lucifer now had free reign in the lives of all people for all time. Satan could hardly contain his glee. He tingled with anticipation as he considered all the pain, agony, death and destruction he could create in the coming years.

Jesus was dead!

Never again would Satan’s efforts to destroy mankind be thwarted by Christ’s goodness, power and love.

Jesus was dead!

Then sometime early Sunday morning, it happened. As suddenly as a lightening bolt but as gentle as a butterfly, Jesus appeared. He stood in front of Satan.

The music stopped. Glasses of wine halted in mid-trip between table and mouth. Jokes remained without a punch line. There was no movement or sound anywhere in the hall. All eyes were riveted on Jesus, the man who could not be there.

For what seemed like hours, Jesus looked at Satan. Then He gradually become larger and larger, while Satan became smaller and smaller. Everyone in the hall could see it happening. Soon Jesus loomed huge as Satan shrunk and seemed to back away, although he never moved at all.

Then Jesus spoke. His quiet, controlled voice carried the power present only in the One who created the entire universe, including Satan himself. Though spoken softly the Messiah’s words carried to every corner of the universe and echoed into every eon of time.

“Oh death, where now is your sting? Oh grave, where now is your victory?” 1 Corinthians 15:55

Then He was gone. He simply vanished.

The demons looked at each other and then at Satan. Where moments before he had seemed a vibrant, victorious general, now he had the appearance of a deflated balloon.

Jesus was alive! The crucifixion had not been successful. The tomb was empty!

Jesus was alive! Satan’s death grip on mankind was forever destroyed.

Jesus was alive! God’s power to transform His children’s lives remained intact.

Jesus was alive! Satan was eternally, totally defeated. There was nothing left to celebrate.

Slowly, one by one, the guests filed silently from the hall. Satan’s pathetic appearance discouraged them from even trying to give him some parting words of encouragement. Jesus was alive, and He would remain alive for all eternity.

And Satan knew it!

This devotion originally appeared on Devotable written by Bob Martin

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