VICTORY

Yes, we have the VICTORY  through Jesus’ death on the cross!!  What a powerful reminder of that victory when we gaze upon Jesus hanging on the cross.

 

Photo courtesy of Prayitno  under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0)

 

The Holy Spirit revealed a cool revelation to me the other day; one that I’m sure we’ve all made but it took on a little deeper meaning to me this time.

 

You are probably familiar with this Old Testament passage:

Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey, and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!”  So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died.  Then the people came to Moses and cried out, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people. Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!”   So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!  –Numbers 21:4-9  (NLT)

  

Let’s compare and contrast that passage with these New Testament passages:

 

As Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the desert, in the same way the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.  –John 3:14-15  (GNT)

 So he said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, you will know that ‘I Am Who I Am’; then you will know that I do nothing on my own authority, but I say only what the Father has instructed me to say.  –John 8:28  (GNT)

The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out.  And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.  –John 12:31-32  (NLT)

 

I found it quite fascinating to think back to our parents, Adam and Eve, when they were in the Garden of Eden.

 

What was it that “tricked” them into eating from the fruit of the tree that God specifically told them not to eat?

Yes, a serpent!

 

What did Adam and Eve eat?

Yes, the fruit from the TREE of the knowledge of good and evil.

 

How ironic that years later God told Moses to make a bronze serpent and to put it on a cross; a cross which is made from a tree. 

 

Representative of Moses’ serpentine cross.  Photo courtesy of Dennis Jarvis under Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0)

 

 

Even more interesting is how when the Israelites that got bitten by a snake then looked at the serpent on the cross they would be healed!

The very thing, a serpent, that caused human kind to sever its pure, unadulterated relationship with God was now healing the people who looked at the serpent on the cross.   Ultimately though the people still faced death.

 

++++++++++++

 

Fast forward to the New Testament and Jesus being sent from heaven to earth by God, His Father to, at the specified time, die.  Jesus knew God’s plan from the beginning and was sharing that message in the New Testament passages above.

 

What did Jesus die upon?

Yes, a cross, made from a tree!  No longer was there a serpent upon the cross; rather Jesus!

 

Think about what Jesus endured on the way to the cross and on the cross…

…betrayal, loneliness, emptiness, abandonment, extreme suffering, even descending to hell!

Aren’t those many human emotions that you and I experience too?  Jesus can relate to us in His humanity that He endured while on this earth.

 

What a powerful, symbolic plan for God to send His only Son, Jesus, to hang on the cross, physically dying on the cross for you and me…to show how…

the Cross is the triumph, the VICTORY, that is ours through Jesus!

  

My favorite crucifix showing great symbolism of Jesus body & blood sacrifice with the bread & wine (grapes)

 

 

Through God’s great power and wisdom…

The cross transformed suffering into redemption!!

 

Jesus, our Savior, who saved us from our sins; yes, even with that very first sin incurred in the garden overriding the original Moses/serpent cross!

Jesus on the Cross is the ultimate victory over the serpent, the fall and sin!

That cross, with Jesus on it, is to be lifted up….lifted up so we will have eternal life; not just a temporary healing on this earth!

When we lift Jesus on the cross, we see Him and are drawn to Him!

How symbolic that Jesus provides that victory; that victory over the serpent who was seeking to rule this world!

The VICTORY is in Jesus on the cross!  The ultimate VICTORY over death! 

 

How is the cross victory?

 –It provides for all of humanity a Savior who restored the broken relationship caused by Adam and Eve eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden.

–Instead of being condemned to death for our sinful nature we are set free

–We are released from bondage of the Law; replaced with Law of Love

–Perfect example of Jesus’ obedience to God, His Father

 

Why is victory needed?

—To restore our right relationship with God, our Father so we can spend eternity together

 

How do we experience that victory on earth ourselves?

 –A personal relationship with God

–Forgiveness of our sins

–God’s mercy and grace

–God’s unconditional love

–Share God’s love with all we encounter

–Choose obedience to God

–Gives us hope

  

How do we experience that victory ourselves eternally?

 –we get to live with God and Jesus in the heavenly kingdom for all eternity; in  a place where this is only light and goodness

 

How fitting that Adam and Eve ate from a tree to make us fallen, so Jesus on the cross, made from a tree, redeemed us so we can have eternal life with Him in heaven!

 

 

 

 

May you be reminded of what redemption the crosses we bear, the sufferings we endure in this life provide just like Jesus’ did.

Think of how Jesus’ arms were outstretched on that cross with His great love that is always ready to embrace you!

As you know, the story does not end with Jesus dying on the cross for three days later He was resurrected and ascended into heaven to be reunited there with God, His Father forty days later!

 

Having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross.  And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.  –Colossians 2:14-15  (NIV)

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  –1 Corinthians 15:57  (NIV)

 

What joy we have to look forward to thanks to the VICTORY that is ours through Jesus and the cross!  Eternal life is ours, my dear readers!

Celebrate the VICTORY on the Cross that He endured for your salvation!

 

This Holy Week, I have one request, a little homework assignment, I hope you will join with me on!  Take a few minutes to gaze upon a crucifix, using one of the pictures here if you need, and reflect on Jesus’ great love for YOU, my dear reader.  Realize that if you were the ONLY person ever, Jesus died on the cross for YOU~~Celebrate the VICTORY that is yours!

 

May you have a wonderful Easter celebrating our Risen Lord and Savior~