V is for Victorious

 
It is interesting that the word “victorious” occurs ten times in the New Testament and all ten of them are in the book of Revelation. When you find yourself reading Revelation be sure that you don’t get tied up in the myriad of details and somehow miss the major point, and that is the victory of God over the powers of Satan and sin.
         But first, let’s go back over the written account of Jesus’ life here on earth. Perhaps it is familiarity with the scriptural story that keeps us from picturing Jesus as victorious. His healing ministry is a continuing account of his victory over sin as expressed in physical maladies. Jesus healed “those suffering severe pain, those having seizures, and the paralyzed” (Mark 4:24), “the blind and the lame” (Matt 21:14), “the crippled, the mute” (Matt 15:30), and “many who had various diseases” (Mark 1:34). In a synagogue in Capernaum he cast a demon out of man who was possessed (Luke 4:35). A Syrophoenician woman came to Jesus pleading for her daughter and Jesus cast the demon out (Mark 7:26). Each one of these miraculous acts demonstrated Jesus’ victory over the forces of evil. His three years of public ministry was a remarkable display of triumph.
         Yet the most compelling victory won by Jesus was his victory on the cross. He certainly didn’t look triumphant as he hung there between two thieves on a dark hill just outside Jerusalem. His followers mourned his loss and had all but given up hope, but Jesus had made that final commitment to his Father and in only a few days the stone would roll away and he would emerge triumphant. Death itself could not contain him. Evil had done its best to put him away for good but had lost the battle.
         Jesus’ victory of Satan and sin has eternal consequences and should shape our mindset here on earth. Our God is an awesome God, as we used to sing. Let’s remove him from his incarnational limitations and see him on the throne. Around him are the countless millions of those who have turned to him in faith and received the transforming power to share personally in his eternal triumph. As history finishes its last chapter we will see the cross transformed into a throne and join the throng of believers from every spot in the world lifting our voices to sing the powerful hymn of redemption.