Death Is Not The End

1 Samuel 31:1-13

The Story

When King Saul died, Israel lost hope and fled away in fear.

The Philistines occupied the Israelite cities.

They mutilated the corpses of Saul and his sons.

They sent Saul's head from city to city as a testimony to the powers of their gods.

They rejoiced in their victory over Israel....

It looked like the hope of the Israelites had been vanquished by hopelessness.

But.... the death of king Saul opened the way for David to be the next king.

It ushered in a new era of hope and prosperity.

God also used this event to change the royal line of Israel to prepare for the advent of the Messiah, The LORD Jesus Christ.

Lessons

When the disciples and followers of The LORD Jesus Christ saw Him hanging dead on the cross, they lost hope and fled away in fear.

It looked like the enemies of God had been victorious.

It looked like Satan and his minions had won the battle against God the day The LORD Jesus Christ died on Calvary.

The demonic hordes rejoiced in the death of the Messiah.

It looked like life had been defeated by death.

It looked like death is the end....

But.... death signifies a new beginning.

The death of The LORD Jesus Christ signaled the end of the Old Testament system of sacrifice and worship.

This was graphically pictured when the veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

God would no longer be approached through the blood of animals and a Jewish priest.

He would now be approached through the shed blood of The LORD Jesus Christ and through The Person of His Son.

The death of The LORD Jesus Christ ushered in a new era of mercy and grace.

Remember...

Saul's death was not the end for the Israelites; God would raise for them a new king.

The LORD Jesus Christ's death was not the end for us; it opened the door of Salvation for all of us!

Let's come to Him and be saved!