We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—
these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:6-10
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”
They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.
John 18:36-40
Last night I watched a movie "Amistad", quite an old picture from the past about the slave trade. In it there was a court case and they were deliberating on which method to use in the defence. Someone suggested a certain approach - a Christ-like one - then the attorney said: "but Christ lost!"
From a worldly perspective, it does appear that Jesus' life ended in ignominy and failure by His death on the Cross.
Yet it wasn't that way at all.
What man considered to be an out and out defeat was the greatest victory of all.
Jesus took on all the realms of Evil, the depravity of Sin, the open throat of Death and came out on top - the grave couldn't hold Him.
For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
Colossians 2:12-15
When you look at the Cross of Jesus, never ever see Him as a Victim - no way! He was determined, setting His Face like flint to the battle against sin on the cross.
Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.
Isaiah 50:7
No, indeed, Christ did not lose - He won an eternal victory and now He is seated at God's right hand until His enemies are made His footstool.
Psalm 110:1
The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
Let's raise our hands aloft this morning and bask in the fact that Jesus has forgiven us and through Him we have the victory over sin and death.
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