Victory Over Sin

It was over. He was dead. Death –the ultimate defeat-had taken Jesus from them. His disciples believed He was the promised one from God. Now their Messiah was dead. While some followers scurried away in fear, others watched in horror and disbelief as their leader was brutally killed. How could this be happening?

   The perfect Son of God was dead. The Earth shuddered and quaked. The sky darkened as the sun hid its glory. God could not wink at sin. The penalty of sin had to be paid. Jesus paid the debt with the ultimate gift-- his life. He paid a debt He didn’t owe. He paid a debt mankind could never pay.

  The cross, the place of  His death, birthed the ultimate victory. The cross was not final defeat, but a final triumph for anyone that would believe and receive. The cross is where Jesus purchased our salvation. Jesus wasn’t defeated. It only looked like defeat. The cross is not a place of defeat, but of victory. He won.

  Jealousy wounded his back, but healing was purchased. Angry crowds drove him up the rocky path, but peace and kindness flowed back through gentle words.  Hate nailed him to the cross, but love held him there. Rejection mocked and ridiculed him far worse than the painful thorns and torn beard, but purpose and God’s high calling was triumphant over the pain of rejection. He was offered gall, the bitter gall of self-pity. It’s purpose was to dull the pain, like we think self pity will dull our pain, but Jesus spit it out. He was victorious over self-pity. He was victorious over sin so that you can be victorious over sin. He was victorious over rejection so you can be victorious over rejection. He defeated hatred with love. He defeated jealousy and cruelty with forgiveness.

  He did it for you, so you could walk in newness of life. That new life is a life that is triumphant over sin. You need to stop saying, “Oh, I’m like my mama. She had a bad temper. I have a bad temper.” Oh, I’m like my aunt, she was a worrier, I’m a worrier.” No, Jesus purchased your peace. Jesus purchased your victory over sin. You can enjoy more than just than a secure future. You can enjoy living in the victory Jesus provided for you. It’s yours. He bought and paid for it.