Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “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.

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 15:51-57

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have you ever watched a YouTube video of a black hole swallowing a star? If you look it up, you’ll see an animation of what it might look like. Even though it’s just a video, it’s kind of shocking! Stars are huge—sometimes thousands of times bigger than Earth. But a black hole can gulp them down like they’re nothing!

Does that sound crazy? Well, that’s kind of how God talks about death. Death is a huge problem—too big for us to handle. Since we are sinners, death had us trapped. But Jesus fought against sin and death. He went into the tomb and came out alive! His victory swallowed up death! And when death is swallowed, it loses all its power over us.

Do you ever worry about what happens when you die? Have you ever lost someone you really love? Don’t be afraid. Death has been defeated! It’s okay to be sad when someone dies, but we can also be joyful because Jesus has won!

His resurrection means we can think of death like sleep. On judgment day, Jesus will come back and wake us up! Our bodies will rise and join our souls in heaven, where we will live with him forever!

Death was a big problem, but Jesus’ resurrection was an even bigger victory! We still call death an enemy, but it’s an enemy Jesus already beat. And because he won, we win too. Thanks be to God!

Dear Jesus, you rose from the dead in victory. You swallowed up death, so I don’t have to be afraid. Fill my heart with courage because of your victory. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Questions for Middle School and Above