How would your life change if you focused on triumph instead of loss? Meditating the triumph of the risen Christ can be life changing. We live in a world with chaos and problems. It is refreshing to focus on something that encourages, uplifts, and brings hope.
Mary Magdalene had gone to the tomb of Jesus to embalm it properly because there had not been enough time on the day Jesus died. Mary was focused on her grief. She had no idea that her tears of grief would become tears of joy.
Tears to Joy
John 20:15Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” 16 “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). 17 “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message. [1]
Triumph of the Cross
When the Lord rose from the dead his triumph was our triumph because we are the greatest benefactors of His victory at the cross. Because Jesus triumphed over death, we can be victorious in life. Just consider what He won for us by sacrificing Himself on the cross.
- Enabled us to be called to faith: Jesus paid the price for our sins and now the Lord can call us to faith and make us part of His family. If Christ hadn’t died in our place, we’d have to stand before God and receive the just punishment for every sin we’ve ever committed.
- Mended the broken relationship between humankind and the Father: Jesus paid the price for our sins that allowed the broken relationship between humankind and the Father to be healed.
- Power over sin: Jesus not only paid the penalty for our sin, but He also brought us present victory over it. When He was crucified, our old sinful nature died with Him. Romans 6:6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.[2]
- Defeat of satan: At the crucifixion, the list of judgements against us was nailed to the cross, and our enemy lost his power over our lives[3] None of his charges can stick, because God holds nothing against us anymore. And now every time we yield to the Holy Spirit within us, our enemy is defeated once again.
We Can Live Differently Because of the Triumph of the Risen Christ
Can you imagine what unfolded in heaven when Jesus rose again? Maybe someday the Lord give us greater insight and understanding into that pivotal day in all of history. Think how your life is different today because of the triumph of the risen Christ. To hear more about the encounter Mary had with the resurrected Jesus, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/encountering-jesus-with-mary
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.