He Holds the Key
"I hold the keys of death and Hades." Revelation 1:18b
It was Easter Sunday morning. We were all sitting in our seats waiting for the church service to begin. From the back of the room we heard shuffling and turned to see one of the teenage boys dressed as Satan. He was holding a large key in one hand and the end of a chain in the other. Behind him were younger children shabbily dressed with make up on their faces to make them look dirty. Each of the children looked sad. They shuffled along behind "Satan" holding onto the chain.
As they approached the front of the church we turned and noticed another teenage boy dressed in white and red and he was obviously playing the role of Jesus in this skit. "Satan" and "Jesus" got into a mock physical fight. At one point "Satan" took a swipe at "Jesus" with his right fist and "Jesus" fell backwards. As he staggered back he lifted his arms and was now depicting Jesus hanging on the cross.
In the scuffle "Satan" lost his key to the chain which was keeping the children in bondage. He looked all around the stage. It was then we noticed "Jesus" had secured the key during the fight and he now held it in his right hand as he hung on the cross.
"Satan" collapsed in defeat and all the children cheered because "Jesus" now held the key to set them free from bondage.
When we introduce people to Jesus we invite them:
to choose the only path to God (the way - John 14:6)
to know the Truth (John 14:6)
into a life that is meant to be full and meaningful now (John 10:10)
to the assurance of eternal life beyond this life because Jesus holds the keys to death and hades. He has conquered death and the invitation is to live with him forever
The privilege to go and make disciples is a privilege beyond description.
