Paschal Three Days II - John 18.1 - 19.42 Victory

As I look back on 2019, it was a good year for victories for my favourite teams.  The first Stanley Cup championship in the history of the St Louis Blues, and the first Super Bowl win for the Kansas City Chiefs.  I am amazed at these wins in the last year or so, but I remember more of the games in 1969 and 1970, like last month to me.  Where has the last 50 years gone? 

As we hear the passion of our Lord and adore His Holy Cross, we proclaim the joy that the cross has brought the world;  we adore Christ and His cross for bringing us a renewal of life in God.  This veneration of the cross is not a nostalgic walk into the world of ancient Rome.  We don't worship a Saviour who had an isolated win followed by a drought of a couple of millennia.  The Lamb slain on the cross has won a victory like no other  First of all, there aren't too many who would consider an odd trial and execution a "victory".  So right there, He is living in rarified air.  No competition for style points on being crucified to edge out an opponent!

Yet, at the same time, no one is much taking Christ on for victory over death in resurrection.  The only proof he offers his followers is in a invitation to believe by looking on His hands, feet, and side.  From the first evening following His rising from the grave, it is about testimony to what they had seen that lead them to consider their beloved Rabbi, Jesus, "(their) Lord and (their) God."  

On both sides of His life, his controversial ministry of teaching and healing, and the rumours of Sunday morning and the days after, there is no way of engagement of the event except by faith, the only way we can see resurrection.  From the encounter of Mary of Magdala with Christ "the gardener", to Christ's appearance announcing peace and an apostleship to his disciples, we bear testimony to the call of faith through which we see the glory of the cross.

If we come before the cross bearing the inconvenience of "giving up something for Lent" or having to spend so much time in those "extra" services of interminable length, then it stands to be exactly that, inconvenience of a self created religiosity.  But if we meet at the cross and see a God Who loves us before we loved Him, a God Who loves us before the creation of the world, then we glorify the cross that gives joy to the world because His love appears in our flesh to die our death. 

What victory is there that could bring more joy?
The Son of God dies, raised by Father, and through faith the Spirit of God lives in us.
As a gift of God, faith in Christ is a victory that cannot wear out or be taken away.
"Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" (I Cor 15.57) 

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