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Author: Dominic Perrem, from The Community of Nazareth in Dublin, Ireland.

Paul writes to the Corinthians, “when the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?’” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55)

The early church fathers understood the crucifixion as an ambush. Death, the enemy of man since Adam and Eve were exiled, the ultimate failure of our forefathers, defeats Jesus on the cross. But, as St. Ephrem the Syrian put it, Jesus “destroyed death in spite of itself.” He died only to destroy death. So, the enemy of God and man thinks he has won. He raises his flag, only to be crushed by the Resurrection—the ultimate ambush. 

Jesus changes death to life, “perishable puts on the imperishable”, as Paul says. Paul then taunts death, “O death, where is thy victory, O death, where is thy sting?” The early church understood that. When Rome vanquished other kingdoms, those kings were chained and paraded through the streets, taunted by the crowds. This is what Paul says is happening to death—it is a vanquished king. Think about your struggles today. What if Jesus has taken away the attacker and utterly destroyed the enemy. He is the victor! Death, the consequence of your sin, is chained. So it can be for us every day! We have nothing to fear if we put all our trust in him. This does not mean that we can run away from his cross, but it gives us no reason to fear our struggle to Calvary. Death, where is your sting, now that Jesus lives?

Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.