Death’s Sting De-stung-ed
- Pastor Jay Christianson
- Apr 25
- 7 min read
“When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55)
My pastor referenced this verse a few weeks ago during his message. For some reason, the words, “Where, death, is your sting?” echoed within me. It’s probably because my Dad died five months ago. I was expecting his death as I watched him fade from the effects of leukemia and his stubborn refusal to eat enough to sustain himself. At ninety-two, he felt he had run his course. He refused treatment for the leukemia because he had already fought off bladder cancer twice a few decades ago.
His courage was remarkable.
Despite the advancing weakness and pain, he was always chipper when my wife and I came to visit. I’m not naïve, though. I know he suffered, but he was the kind of guy who played it stoic and pretty much only opened up about the struggle to Bonnie Jean, his wife, and my stepmom.
It was about nine months from the full onset of the disease to Dad shuffling off this mortal coil. Thankfully, the Lord made the time and a way for Jeanne and me to visit him the week before he died. It was a few days after returning to our Florida home that we got the news.
“Your father just passed away.”
I’m not going to lie. I was relieved. My Dad had been in a lot of pain as the end approached, and his body began the slow and steady shut-down process. My stepmom told me the last few hours were so painful for him that they loaded him up with as many painkillers as they could medically allow. And yet, the dulled pain never left. Until he took his last breath, and he was finally free.
Then, the pain started for the rest of us.
All of us survivors know death’s sting.
Generally speaking, “death’s sting” symbolizes the dread of mortality—its ability to cause grief, loss, and the fear of the unknown. It’s also the all-too-real pain, fear, and power that death has over every person.
Every person.
As one wag put it, “No one gets out of this life alive.” That’s because Adam and Eve were the first to feel death’s sting when they turned their backs on God. He told Adam, “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die” (Genesis 2:17).
The moment the doomed couple chose to “eat the fruit,” i.e., rejected God’s command in favor of commanding their destiny, the fatal separation occurred. Having split from the Source of Life, they immediately began losing spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical life. They were the walking dead until their bio-degradable container reached its “sell-by date” and their “shelf life” expired. “For you are dust, and you will return to dust” (Genesis 3:19).
Death’s Sting: Separation From God
The worst part of death’s sting is separation from God. Because of our O.P. (Original Parents), we all start life detached from the Lord, for “you were dead in your trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). Oh, the Lord still sustains us and is near to us, but as spiritually dead people, we don’t and can’t respond to Him. Seriously. Have you ever seen a corpse greet the mourners at a funeral?
The Great Separation in Eden left humanity bereft of the Lord’s presence, protection, provision, and peace. We lost the fullness of Eden, doomed to the slow pain of life draining away in lonely exile away from the garden, the epicenter of the Lord’s presence. Dying to God was the worst thing to happen to humanity.
Death’s Sting: Separation From Loved Ones
As death began to take one person after another through history, the loss of a loved one drove the sharp stakes of pain into humanity’s collective heart. Every day, multitudes around the world know death’s sting of suffering, emptiness, and loneliness that linger on the raw edges of the hole in our hearts where someone dear to us once resided. It’s a void that never really fills in. It becomes a depression in our souls where memories settle, memories that remain though the person no longer does.
It’s the sharp, lasting impact, that “gone forever-ness,” that makes death feel so terrible.
Death’s Sting: Separation From Our Own Body
For me, the most unreal part of death is considering my own end. Not knowing the “what, where, when, and how” carries some trepidation. Sure, when we’re young, we hardly think of our passing through the veil between this life and the next. But as most of us “older” folks know (increasingly so every day), the inevitable is stalking us. How do we know?
Oy gevalt! Every joint ache, every little (or big) pain, and every illness, injury, and symptom remind us of our body’s temporal existence.
I once gave a sermon that detailed what a human body goes through once death has occurred. Frankly, the decomposition process was fascinating to me. I’m not morbid, but my big takeaway from my research was that I’m happy I won’t be in my body as it breaks down into dust. I have been reminded, however, that I can’t escape death’s destruction of aging in this life either.
Those ol’ body cells just don’t reproduce as accurately as they used to, resulting in wrinkles and blemishes. Some cells stop reproducing altogether. Just ask my hair follicles. Every glance in the mirror is one more look down the road to eventuality. Will death come suddenly or slowly? Will it be traumatic or peaceful? Painful or painless? Who knows? But it’s the not knowing that unsettles us. Thank you, Lord for those in the healthcare field who are skilled in hospice care.
Once death occurs, the question usually arises, “What was the cause of death?”
Life.
But death, while sad and intimidating, is not the final answer. Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 15:55 reveals this profound truth: Because of Jesus, death’s sting has been de-stung-ed. (Yes, I made that word up. You’re welcome.)
Paul’s statement caps off his grand revelation of our eternal hope because of Jesus’ resurrection:
Jesus died, was buried, and was resurrected from the dead. He proved it by appearing to many of His disciples soon after His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-11)
Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is crucial to our faith (1 Corinthians 15:12-19).
Jesus’ resurrection from the dead absolutely guarantees every believer’s future resurrection from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:20-28).
Jesus’ resurrection from the dead strengthens us in the experiential struggles of life (1 Corinthians 15:29-34).
Jesus’ resurrection from the dead shows us what form we’ll have after we’ve escaped death’s clutches, a body that will never experience any effect of death forever (1 Corinthians 15:35-49).
Jesus’ resurrection from the dead will cause all believers to come alive once more, and once humanity is once more ensconced in undying bodies, death itself will be vanquished (1 Corinthians 15:50-58).
Paul’s exclamations, “Death has been swallowed up in victory,” and “Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting?” are quotes from the Hebrew scriptures showing us that our Heavenly Father had a solution to the problem of death in the works for a very long time. Here are the full quotes in context:
“On this mountain (Mount Zion/Jerusalem) he will swallow up the burial shroud, the shroud over all the peoples, the sheet covering all the nations. When he has swallowed up death once and for all, the Lord God will wipe away the tears from every face and remove his people’s disgrace from the whole earth, for the Lord has spoken. On that day it will be said, ‘Look, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he has saved us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him. Let’s rejoice and be glad in his salvation’” (Isaiah 25:7-9).
For the record, the Hebrew word for “salvation” is yeshua, Jesus’ Hebrew name. Isaiah reveals that Jesus will be the agent by whose work death will be destroyed, and the event that “swallows up the burial shroud” will happen in Jerusalem. It won’t just be for the Jews but for every nation on earth.
Paul’s second quote is from Hosea. “I will ransom them from the power of Sheol (the resting place of the dead). I will redeem them from death. Death, where are your barbs? Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from my eyes” (Hosea 13:14). Hosea’s word is that because of sin, death will come to the northern kingdom of Israel, literally (war) and figuratively (exile). But Hosea also reveals that despite their “death,” God can restore them to life.
Despite death, the Lord will restore us to life. Jesus’ resurrection was a massive slap in death’s face.
Therefore, Paul taunts death by declaring that Jesus’ resurrection proves that death has lost its absolute power over a believer and eternal life awaits them.
What the Father foreshadowed through the prophets, Jesus made a reality. Therefore, death’s sting of being separated from our Father’s presence, protection, provision, and peace is gone. Death’s sting de-stung-ed.
Death’s sting of being separated from our bodies will only be temporary because Jesus’ return will restore our bodies to OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) design. After all, our Father created us to live forever. Death’s sting de-stung-ed.
Death’s sting over losing loved ones and the grief of never seeing them again will finally be over. The holes in our hearts will be refilled when we see the resurrected faces of family and friends who have died while trusting Jesus for salvation. Death’s sting de-stung-ed.
But that only applies to those who embrace our Father’s plan of salvation and restoration. For those who reject our Father’s offer through Jesus, death’s sting will remain—forever. No God. No others. No perfect body. Death’s sting forever.
That’s the choice—death’s sting or death’s sting de-stung-ed.
The choice is obvious. Please reach out to your Heavenly Father today.
And when we see each other on the other side, where death no longer stings, let’s take a moment to love on the One who de-stung-ed death.
Shining the Light of God’s Truth on the Road Ahead
Pastor Jay Christianson
The Truth Barista, Frothy Thoughts