In Remembrance of Victory

Scripture Reading:  Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-57

Who doesn’t love a victory story?  The resurrection is undoubtedly the highlight of the entire Bible.  It’s the perfect account of the perfect victory!

The sweetest victories usually begin in the direst of circumstances.  We all know of—and maybe have experienced—those rock-bottom moments when all hope seems to be lost.  Then, at the lowest point, a miraculous victory emerges.

When Jesus rose from the dead, He won a victory that extends to eternity.  His resurrection took away the power of death for everyone who follows Him.

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.

1 Corinthians 15:51-57

By conquering death, Jesus freed us from the devil’s grasp.

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

Hebrews 2:14-15 

I heard a sermon recently about the healing of Jairus’ daughter in Mark 5:35-43.  If you’re familiar with that passage of scripture, you know that the daughter of Jairus, a synagogue ruler, became sick and died.  Upon reaching Jairus’ home, Jesus tells the family and friends mourning the young girl’s death, “The child is not dead but asleep” (Mark 5:39).  In the sermon I heard, the minister noted that Jesus was not lying when He said the girl wasn’t dead.  Jesus knew that there was life beyond death.  Jesus knew that the girl was essentially asleep.  (And, of course, He knew that he would raise her back to life at that moment, as well.)

What if all who follow Jesus thought like that and lived like that?  What if we looked beyond death and looked beyond the impossible, and saw the eternal, almighty power of God?  What if we kept Jesus’ perfect victory always on our hearts and before our eyes?

My family and I are huge fans of the American football team the New Orleans Saints.  Quite a few years ago, our team won the Super Bowl, which is the pinnacle of victory in that sport.  During most of the game, it looked like our team would lose.  I remember being nervous and stressed out as we watched it live on television.  However, since that victory, we have watched replays of that game countless times.  I never get nervous—and I never get tired—of watching it.  At the moments in the video when it looks like we will surely lose, I don’t worry at all, because I already know the outcome.  Victory!

At Easter and always, may we remember that the victory over sin and death is already ours.  May we celebrate and rejoice that our Savior has defeated death and the power of Satan.  May we rejoice that we are victorious through Him!

Questions for Reflection:

1. Have you ever won a difficult contest or challenge?  Reflect on how that victory felt.  What emotions come to mind?

2. As the disciples watched Jesus being crucified, how do you think they may have felt?  How do you think the disciples may have felt when they saw the resurrected Lord?  When you think of your day-to-day perspective on life, do you more often feel like the disciples at the crucifixion or the disciples at the resurrection?

3. In 1 Corinthians 15:58, after noting that we have victory in Christ, the Bible says: “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”  How do you think the assurance of victory could motivate you to stand firm, giving yourself fully to the work of the Lord?  What “work” do you think the Lord may be calling you to today?