No Failed Mission Here

There have been untold numbers of missions which have fallen short of the intended goal. The failed mission devastates, dashes hopes, causes some to play the blame game, and very often leaves the loser trapped in a position from which he never recovers. There are no champagne toasts, no victory laps, and there are no pats on the back. On the day following the crucifixion Jesus’ disciples were unable to function due to the brutal death and burial of the one whom they had thought was the Messiah. Their future hung in the balance as they had no idea where to turn. The mission had undeniably failed.

My sixth grade teacher, Mrs. Cassie Head, taught our class the song “Up From the Grave He Arose”. We sang that song every morning until Easter. The first line says, “Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior…”.  The day after Jesus’ lifeless body had been placed in the tomb his disciples would have only had that one line they could have sung—a lyric of defeat, a dirge of failure, a tune of hopelessness. Judas had hanged himself. Peter wallowed in a state of anguish because of his cowardice when his master needed him the most. The others had scattered and were hiding for fear of being arrested for their part in the rebellion instigated by their crucified leader. The day after the death of the One the disciples had given three years of their lives for was no doubt their darkest day ever. All because Jesus was lying low in the grave, nothing more than a corpse.

What a tragedy this would have been if the greatest mission ever had ended with our Savior lying low in a grave. But I know the rest of the song and I hope you do too.

Up from the grave he arose;
with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;
he arose a victor from the dark domain,
and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Jesus was and remains the Victor over his foes—death, the grave and sin. Jesus our Savior defeated Satan. Darkness was destroyed by his eternal light. The power of his resurrection assured those who truly follow him the right to become God’s children who will live forever with him. There was never any doubt that His mission to save the world from sin would be a huge success!

Death has been swallowed up in victory.
“Where, O death, is your victory?
 Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:54-57

We must live every day like we believe the rest of the song. O what a price he paid so that we can sing with exuberant conviction, “Up from the grave He arose. He Arose! He arose, Hallelujah! Christ arose!