"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."
-I Corinthians 15:55-57

One resource I use in Live Wires is an illustration book that conveys stories that focus on a theme, offers a scripture for that theme, and promotes conversations within our group. One such story I wish to share with you from "Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks" by Wayne Rice: The Bee Sting.

A vacationing family drives along in their car, windows rolled down, enjoying the warm breeze of the sunny day. All of a sudden, a big black bee darts in the window and starts buzzing around inside the car. A little girl, highly allergic to bee stings, cringes in the backseat. If she is stung, she could die within an hour. "Oh, Daddy," she squeals in terror. "It's a bee! It's going to sting me!" The father pulls the car over to a stop, and reaches back to try to catch the bee. Buzzing around toward him, the bee bumps against the front windshield where the father traps it in his fist.

Holding it in his closed hand, the father waits for the inevitable sting. The bee stings the father's hand and in pain, the father lets go of the bee. The bee is loose in the car again. The little girl again panics, "Daddy, it's going to sting me!" The father gently says, "No honey, he's not going to sting you now. Look at my hand." The bee's stinger is there in his hand.

Paul exulted in I Corinthians 15:55, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" Jesus says to us, "Look at my hands." He has Satan's sting, the sting of death, the sting of sin, the sting of deceit, the sting of feeling worthless. Jesus has all of those stingers in His hands. When you see that nail-scarred hand, realize that, on your behalf, Jesus took all the pain that Satan could throw at Him. He reduced Satan to a big black bee that's lost its stinger-all Satan can do is buzz. That's the victory that Jesus won for you.

Savior, thank you for taking
the sting of death, sin, deceit,
and the feeling of worthlessness.
Thank you for the victory
of your death!
Amen!

Judy Howle
Director of Middle School Ministries