Jesus Is Victor!

"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57)

The two major elements present in the Easter story are the fact and the meaning of the fact.

That Christ arose after He had been put to death by crucifixion is the fact; the true historicity of the event is too well established to require proof or even comment today. The meaning of that resurrection, however, must be rediscovered by each believing soul and by the Church age after age till our Lord returns to earth again.

It is, of course, necessary to preserve the theology of the resurrection and to guard the truth well and carefully; but that is not enough. We must know what it means to us as pilgrims and strangers. That He "rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" is the biblical foundation for our faith in a risen Lord (1 Corinthians 15:4). But love and faith would go further; they would devoutly seek to experience the present riches of His Easter triumph.

Jesus is Victor! That is the truth His resurrection proclaims. Now it remains for us to allow Him to be victor in us, thus multiplying the glory of His triumph in the hearts of His trusting people.

Lord, thank You for the victory that is mine through the resurrection of Your Son. May I claim that victory in experience throughout the day today. Amen

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True Spiritual Power

"Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." (Matthew 28:18)

True spiritual power does not reside in the ancient cross but in the victory of the mighty, resurrected Lord of Glory who could pronounce after spoiling death: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Matthew 28:18). Of this we need to be thoroughly convinced. Our power as Christians does not lie in the manger at Bethlehem or in the relics of Golgotha's Cross. Our power lies in the Eternal Christ who triumphed over death.

When Jesus died on the Cross, He died in weakness. When Jesus arose from the grave, He arose in power. If we forget or deny the truth and glory of Jesus's resurrection and His present place at God's right hand, we lose all the significance of Christianity! 

Jesus died for us - true - but ever since the hour of resurrection, He has been the mighty Jesus, the mighty Christ, the mighty Lord! Authority does not lie with a Babe in a manger. Authority does not lie with a Man nailed helplessly to a Cross. Authority lies with the resurrected Man Who was once in that manger, who hung on that Cross but who, after He gave His life, arose on the third day, later ascending to the right hand of the Father. In Him lies all authority.

Thank You, Lord, that my power for living and serving today lies not in the events of history but in the resurrection and ascended Christ. Amen

~A. W. Tozer~