Dear Friends
I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to
look back and reflect. Sometimes in the excitement of the moment I miss
certain details whilst enjoying the overall experience.
I would like to share with you a piece written by
Revd, John Phillips which helped me appreciate why we can celebrate the
risen and ascended Lord Jesus.
John Phillips reflecting on how complete the
victory was, shares these thoughts. I believe this is worth spending some
time considering, it certainly helps me to appreciate the complete,
utter, perfect victory that Jesus won.
As the writer of Hebrews declares (5:9) Once made perfect, he became the source or eternal salvation for all who obey him.
‘5 areas of victory’
At Gethsemane VICTORY OVER THE FLESH.
Matthew 26: 36-39
36 Then
Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his
disciples,
“Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him
Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and
troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to
death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a
little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if
it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will,
but as you will.”
At Gabbatha VICTORY OVER THE WORLD (Politics)
John 19:
13
13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which
in Aramaic is Gabbatha).
At Golgotha VICTORY OVER SATAN
John 19: 17
17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
At the Grave VICTORY OVER DEATH AND HADES.
John 19: 38-42
38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he
feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He
was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at
night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about
seventy-five pounds.[a] 40 Taking
Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of
linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one
had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
In Glory VICTORY OVER TIME AND SPACE.
Mark 16: 19
19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.
As the writer of Hebrews declares (5:9) Once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.