01/18/2022
Born in a stable, wrapped in swaddling cloth, and then laid in a manger. How unlikely was it that this child would be a King, and conquer sin and death in the world? What makes His victory especially sweet? It isn’t that He won because that is true of every victory. What makes this victory triumphant, exceptionally joyous, and timeless, is that Jesus, the victor, was incredibly unlikely, and the chance of His victory seemed impossible by any measure. Yet despite all appearances He snatched victory from what seemed to be the jaws of certain defeat. This humble man, who rode astride a donkey’s colt, proved to be God incarnate, and He is more than our savior, He transforms us.
““Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!””
John 12:15 ESV
There is a movie called “Miracle on Ice” which is the true story about the defeat of an overpowering Soviet Hockey team by an unlikely young American team, who then went on to win the gold medal in the 1980 Winter Olympics. What made this event amazing was that the team of men from the USSR which was defeated in the process had won gold in the previous four Olympics, and had not lost an Olympic game since 1968. This team was strong, seasoned, and fearsome… so the world didn’t give the rag tag group of collegiate Americans a chance, but in the end they were victorious. The American victory amazed us at the time, and caused the entire sporting world to gasp, and take notice as they shared in the joy and glory of this victory. What Jesus did in His birth, life, suffering, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension, made this celebrated 1980 hockey victory, and all other victories of man, to pale in comparison, and He continues to conquer the world, and to be triumphant to this day; leading all of the Christian world to victory, and transforming us as we share in the glory of His triumph.
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.””
John 16:33 ESV
So it is that Jesus, our King, savior, redeemer, and the Son of the Living God, claimed, and continues to claim, an unprecedented victory which is unparalleled by anything known to man, and indeed, anything known in all of creation. In this he not only pleases God, but glorifies Him, and we are remade to be like Him, perfect in His image, and glorified by our faith in Him.
“When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”
John 17:1, 4-5 ESV
As believers in Jesus Christ we are more than simply victors, we are triumphant as He is triumphant, we please God as He does, we are humbly obedient just as He is, and one day we will walk in triumphant procession with Him through the streets of Heaven, and we will share in His glory, but until that day we are meant to deliver the fragrant knowledge of Him to all the world…
“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”
2 Corinthians 2:14 ESV
Are we ready to claim the victory that is unlike any other? Are we prepared to abide in Christ, and for Him to abide in us? Is it our desire to be the adopted children of God, and to become heirs and joint heirs with Jesus in His victory, triumph, and glory forever?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus, and for allowing us to be transformed by Him into new creatures. Thank you for making us to be your heirs, and joint heirs with Him as we walk at His side in victory, singing in triumphant praise and worship of your glory, love, and might. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who gives us Jesus, your precious fruit, and steeps us in His essence until we are like Him in every way. Praised be your name, even as His fragrance become ours, and we share in the glory of His victory over sin and death in the world. Praised be your name Father for each moment with your Holy Spirit who leads us, gives us the understanding of your Word, and brings to our remembrance who we have become by your grace in Christ. Hear our voices as we sing with the heavenly host, and shout out Hosanna! Hosanna! For you have truly delivered us in eternal victory. Merciful are you Father because we were once dead in sin, but are now alive, and will live on with you forevermore. We love you now because you have loved us first. You have, you do, and you always will, love us so.
“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.”
2 Corinthians 2:14-17 ESV
Rich Forbes