Post by foxjj on Oct 23, 2022 2:03:49 GMT
The Victorious Christ
For the last two thousand years the world has had the opportunity to hear, and read about the victorious life of Jesus Christ. From the opening of the Gospel of John we can read of the uniqueness of Jesus, whom John identified as The Word: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”(John 1:1-5) It is important to remember this description is of Jesus, who was born in the manger of Bethlehem.
John goes on to proclaim that Jesus was The Light who would change lives. However, he also acknowledges that not everyone would recognize the importance of who Jesus was. Nonetheless, for all who do acknowledge Jesus, who believe on Him, will experience an eternal change in their life: “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”(John 1:9-13)
The testimony of the Baptist concerning the victorious Christ, is recorded in verses 29-34 where he declares that Jesus, although The Creator, came as The Lamb of God who would be The Eternal Sacrifice for sin: “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
During the three years of His ministry, Jesus showed God’s love for humanity by reaching out to the hurting. He was victorious over nature by calming the storm (Mark4) and also walking on water (Matthew 14) Jesus was victorious over death by raising the widow’s son (Luke 7) also Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5) One of the greatness victory’s in the ministry of Jesus is recorded in John chapter 11 when He raised Lazarus from death after four days in the tomb. It is in this chapter that Jesus declared: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”(John 11:25-26) That question is the cornerstone of of all life’s questions because, the answer determines our eternal destiny - life with Jesus, or judgement.
For believers, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are the crowning victories in His ministry. To the world the crucifixion of Jesus was a sad end to His life when cruel men abused a great teacher. However, in actual fact the crucifixion of Jesus was the means by which God brought Atonement for sin, and Redemption for all who accept Jesus’ sacrifice as Paul explained: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood —to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished — he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.“ (Romans 3:23-26)
Today, let us give thanks for our Victorious Christ and His Atonement.
John Joseph Fox.
For the last two thousand years the world has had the opportunity to hear, and read about the victorious life of Jesus Christ. From the opening of the Gospel of John we can read of the uniqueness of Jesus, whom John identified as The Word: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”(John 1:1-5) It is important to remember this description is of Jesus, who was born in the manger of Bethlehem.
John goes on to proclaim that Jesus was The Light who would change lives. However, he also acknowledges that not everyone would recognize the importance of who Jesus was. Nonetheless, for all who do acknowledge Jesus, who believe on Him, will experience an eternal change in their life: “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”(John 1:9-13)
The testimony of the Baptist concerning the victorious Christ, is recorded in verses 29-34 where he declares that Jesus, although The Creator, came as The Lamb of God who would be The Eternal Sacrifice for sin: “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
During the three years of His ministry, Jesus showed God’s love for humanity by reaching out to the hurting. He was victorious over nature by calming the storm (Mark4) and also walking on water (Matthew 14) Jesus was victorious over death by raising the widow’s son (Luke 7) also Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5) One of the greatness victory’s in the ministry of Jesus is recorded in John chapter 11 when He raised Lazarus from death after four days in the tomb. It is in this chapter that Jesus declared: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”(John 11:25-26) That question is the cornerstone of of all life’s questions because, the answer determines our eternal destiny - life with Jesus, or judgement.
For believers, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are the crowning victories in His ministry. To the world the crucifixion of Jesus was a sad end to His life when cruel men abused a great teacher. However, in actual fact the crucifixion of Jesus was the means by which God brought Atonement for sin, and Redemption for all who accept Jesus’ sacrifice as Paul explained: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood —to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished — he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.“ (Romans 3:23-26)
Today, let us give thanks for our Victorious Christ and His Atonement.
John Joseph Fox.