The concept of death is a significant theme throughout the Bible. It is a reminder of the fallen state of humanity and the ultimate consequence of sin. However, the Bible also presents a message of hope and redemption, emphasizing the power of God to overcome death through his son, Jesus Christ. In particular, the phrase “death could not hold him” refers to the resurrection of Jesus Christ and his victory over death, a cornerstone of the Christian faith.
The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ, who was fully human and divine, willingly died on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity. He was buried in a tomb, but on the third day, he rose from the dead, conquering death and demonstrating his power over sin and the grave. This event is not only a historical fact. Still, it is also seen as a fulfillment of numerous prophecies throughout the Old Testament, which foreshadowed the coming of a savior who would overcome death.
The resurrection of Jesus is a central tenet of Christian belief and has significant implications for believers. It is a source of hope, demonstrating that death is not the end for those who trust in Jesus but rather the beginning of eternal life with him. It also assures Christians that they will experience a bodily resurrection and be reunited with loved ones who have died in Christ.
The phrase “death could not hold him” is often used in Christian literature and hymns as a reminder of the power and victory of Jesus over death. It symbolizes hope and a call to faith in the one who conquered death and opened the way to eternal life for all who believe in him.
Death Could Not Hold Him Bible Verse
The phrase “death could not hold him” can be found in the New Testament of the Bible, specifically in Acts 2:24, which reads in the New International Version (NIV):
Acts 2:24 (NIV)
“But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”
This verse, “death could not hold him” is expressed as “it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” This verse speaks to the power of God and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, highlighting that death could not keep him in the grave. It serves as a reminder of the hope and assurance that believers have in the victory of Christ over death and the promise of eternal life for those who believe in him.
Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Matthew 28:6
“He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.”
1 Corinthians 15:21-22
“For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”
1 Corinthians 15:14
“And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:20
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
John 11:25-26
“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Romans 6:4
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
1 Peter 1:3
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
1 Peter 2:24
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”
Victory over death in Christianity
1 Corinthians 15:54-55
“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 5:24
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
1 Corinthians 15:57
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 14:8
“For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.”
Psalm 27:1
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Romans 8:38-39
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Revelation 21:4
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Easter Sunday and the Empty Tomb
Luke 24:6-7
“He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”
Luke 24:2-3
“And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.”
Luke 24:12
“So Peter rose and ran to the tomb. He stooped and looked in, and he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.”
Mark 16:6
“And he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.'”
Luke 24:1-3
“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.”
Matthew 12:40
“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
John 20:11-12
“But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.”
Matthew 28:5-6
“And the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.'”
The Power of the Resurrection in the Bible
1 Corinthians 15:14
“And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:20
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
John 11:25-26
“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Romans 6:4
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
1 Corinthians 15:21-22
come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”
1 Corinthians 15:20-22
“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”
Philippians 3:10
“That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”
Ephesians 1:19-20
“And his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.”
Overcoming Death Through Faith
John 11:25
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.'”
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
John 6:40
“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
John 5:24
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
1 John 5:11-12
“And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
John 3:36
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
1 Corinthians 15:22
“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”
Conclusion
the phrase “death could not hold him” is a powerful expression of the Christian faith, highlighting the victory of Jesus Christ over death through his resurrection. This concept is a cornerstone of Christian belief, representing believers’ hope and assurance in the promise of eternal life with Christ.
The Bible teaches that death is a consequence of sin, but through Christ, believers are freed from the fear of death and given the hope of resurrection and eternal life. The phrase “death could not hold him” serves as a reminder of the power and victory of God over death and a call to faith in the one who conquered death and opened the way to eternal life for all who believe in him.
