Victorious cross

Introduction

Colossians 2:14 "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross"

In the above passage we see about the cross of God. The cross acts as a symbol of the victory of Christ. The cross is something which is so powerful that it puts the Satan into the state of fright. Even in our lives, we might have heavy burdens and problems but today when we start meditating on the victorious cross of God, he will strengthen us against all the odds in life. The victorious cross will make us victorious ones. Today, as a part of our meditation, we would ponder on the victories of our Christ.

I Trust on flesh but not on Christ

Matthew 26:56 "But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled."

Over here we see the tribulations of Christ started in the garden of Gethsemane. But we see, right from the start of Christ's ministry there were many people with him. The disciples of Christ were always with him in all the places he went. Unfortunately in this pivotal time when he was caught to crucify, everyone ran away from him. There was absolutely nobody with him. At the time of trouble, all ran away from him. Our Christ was left lonely. Same way in our lives, people who we trust will run away when we are in trouble. In the garden of Gethsemane, they departed from Christ at the time of trouble. Let us also mediate the consequences faced by them when they departed from Christ.

In John 18:10 "Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus." We read about the Simon peter who was considered the most important among all the Disciples of Christ. But when Jesus was caught and they were trying to imprison him, Simon peter wanted to do something to stop the act. Despite being with Jesus for more than 3 years, he takes his sword and smites a servant's ear. The act of Simon peter was completely based on his carnal side. As a disciple of Christ he should not have engaged in such act and he should have trusted on Christ. He did not wait for the spiritual victory but he wanted to seek victory through his sword in a carnal way.

In Acts 7:22,25 "And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not." Here we see about Moses the servant of God who was eloquent and trained enough to save the children of Israel. Though Moses had a revelation about the salvation of the people of Israel, he initially fought the spiritual fight in a carnal way. This is why he was given a preparatory training in the wilderness for a period of forty years. Therefore, Simon peter took the carnal way and it costed an ear. And Moses took the carnal way, and that costed a life of a Hebrew man. As the children of Christ, we should never choose the carnal way to win over any form of struggles in our lives. In Ephesians 6:11-12 'Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.' As we rightly read in the above verse, we as a children of Christ should always overcome all the challenges in life through Christ.

II Drown in sin

Matthew 26:58 "But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end."

When we depart from our Christ, we would eventually fall into the pit of sin. Peter, who was the closest disciple of Christ, who in fact travelled with Christ for three and  half years who learnt many spiritual lessons from our Christ. In Luke 22:31 'And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:' Here Peter fails to listen to the words of prophesy that Christ shares concerning him. When we fail to listen to the word of God, we would drown into sin. In Luke 22:32,44 'But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.' We see, even the enemies of Christ had good terms with hi, but here Peter backslides. In that situation, Peter felt cold and Christ sweated out. Also we read in Matthew 27:3-4 'Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.' Both Judas and Peter let down Christ at crucial points, and their end was bitter. But our Christ who was forsaken by everyone and he was found all alone. Despite of all this, Christ fought his fight and fulfills his purpose. The victory of God saved all of his children from all their sins and gave them the divine salvation. Therefore, we the children of Christ should face the challenges of life just as how Christ did. Let not the carnal ways influence our lives. May the victorious cross bring us victories in our lives and bless us.

Amen!