Freedom

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. —Hebrews 2:14–15

 

One of my all-time favorite quotes is by martyred missionary Jim Elliot, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”  There are few [I suspect] who live in such freedom – freedom from fear of life’s ultimate enemy … death.  End of physical life was the curse of the Garden, the doom of man’s sin: “The ‘power of death’ is the ability to make death fearful. The ‘power of death’ is the power that holds men in bondage through fear of death. It is the power to keep men in sin, so that death comes as a horrid thing.” (John Piper, Good News of Great Joy).  The last thing Satan wanted was for Jesus to go to the cross!  Calvary was the arena where Christ wrestled the “power of death” from Satan’s grip.  The journey to the Cross began when Love came to Bethlehem; it was a difficult road filled with persecution and scoffers, ending in death.  God knew this – Jesus knew this – the Spirit knew this … it was the cost of freedom from life’s enemy.  The manger is empty – so is the Tomb!  Praise our King Emmanuel!