Every day from every angle, we face trials, heart aches, pains and suffering within this world. Yet, all we who know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, have hope. That hope, anchored by faith, allows us to face every trial with Joy, knowing the victory is ours. Because of the victory Jesus displayed for us, there is no reason to despair. Oh, how I loved my hours with my patients at the Veterans Administration Cardiology Clinic and my co-workers. Although, now retired, I think of them. Their valor, honor and courage always give me courage to march on whatever battles are thrown before me. There I watched and learned from those who with broken bodies and hearts, demonstrate the greatest faith, love, and even joy in life. They had walked roads I could not even imagine. Yet, their valor and love for God shined through everything they did.
Even more, I learn from the lessons to Victory Jesus Displayed while on earth. This goes beyond just His written word left to encourage. It is God Himself, showing us the way through His own journey to the Cross. So, on this Palm Sunday, let us look unto Jesus the Author and the finisher of our faith. He endured the cross, with all the pain and shame of it, out of love for everyone. Knowing that not all would accept His gift of salvation. However, for each one who does, the victory was won for them. “Tetelestai!” It is finished. There is no other work needed to claim this victory Jesus displayed and won for all who would believe.
Lessons to Victory Jesus Displayed on Earth
Sometimes I think we underestimate the depth of suffering thinking it was less than it was. After all, He is God who came to earth. However, His Suffering was greater than any pain you or I can ever face. He is the perfect, righteous, Son of God who laid down everything to walk in Human Flesh that He might be the perfect Savior. His suffering was unmeasurable in human terms, although it was in human flesh He suffered. Imagine the temptation of knowing at any point, He could call a legion of angels to rescue Him. At any point, He could say, it is not worth it. When Peter stepped forward with a sword to defend Jesus, these were the words Jesus spoke,
Then said Jesus unto him, “Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?” Matthew 26:52-54
Imagine any situation where you could immediately walk away and not look back. How much harder would that be to go through with it? Could you? Would I? Particularly, If I knew the depth of pain marching forward would be nearly more than I could bear? How many would just walk away? Yet, for the joy of saving all those who would believe in Him and His overwhelming love for them, Jesus marched steadfastly forward. Although, the Garden of Gethsemane displays how hard that choice was. Yet, He made the choice anyway.
Therefore, let us go back and walk the journey to the cross to learn the lessons for victory Jesus displayed along that journey.
Lesson #1 to Victory Jesus Displayed: Tried to Prepare Those He loved
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. John 12:24-28
Jesus began to feel the weight of what was coming. Naturally in His humanity, He desired not to have to face it.
Perhaps the best I can compare is as I knew of the breast cancer, I told my children I would have surgery and then chemotherapy. But I never told them of the severity of the cancer nor its potential death sentence. I kept all that to myself and God in prayer. Would it have been better to discuss it and allow them to ask questions. After all that was what Jesus did with His apostles; but, even then they did not understand.
Perhaps, it is best for us to be open with those around us to the best we can. Still, as did Jesus, accept whatever God determines is best as truly best. Then, we lay aside the worry given those we love an anchor to hold regardless of what storms come. No fear, only trust in the wonderful, merciful, powerful hands of God the Father.
Lesson #2: Victory Jesus Displayed During His Triumphal Entry
When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with it. Untie them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them on immediately.” Now this took place so that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled:
“Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold your King is coming to you,
Humble, and mounted on a donkey,
Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” Matthew 21:1-5
The crowd thought that He came to free them from the Roman rule. Little did they know, before they can be freed from human rule; they needed to be freed from their own sinful nature. They cheered Him along the way into Jerusalem.
And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. Luke 19:37-38
Yet, He knew the truth of their hearts. They wanted the miracles here and now. Truly it was not salvation from their own sinful hearts that they desired.
For that reason:
when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. Luke 19:41-46
He did not lose sight of His true mission. Never did He let the applause of the crowd deter Him from the course.
What about you and I? Do we let the crowds alter our course? Does pride and the desire to be approved by others alter our mission toward God’s Word?
Jesus did not come to overthrow the Romans. Not at this time. He came to overthrow the evil apostasy within the hearts of His people. But to do so, He knew He would have to pay the price for their sin. Immediately the crowd began to turn against Him for not doing what they wanted Him to do. He came to give them eternal life and eternal freedom from the wages of sin. They only saw the here and now.
Lesson #3: Victory Jesus Displayed – Service and Humility
Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God. He riseth from supper and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. John 13: 1-16
How quick are we to cast aside a brother in Christ rather than wash his feet?
Lesson #4: Victory Jesus Displayed as He Prepared those He loved
In John 14 , 15, and 16, Jesus reminds His apostles the Comforter coming. He tells them He must leave for a while. His departure is fully for them. Only if He leaves can the comforter come. They do not understand that He will die to pay the price for their sin. He will rise again with Victory over death and sin. Only then, can they be justified by His blood. This they did not want to hear. So, they closed their ears. But He kept telling them in many ways.
In John 15, He urges them to abide in Him as the sap that feeds them. This is regardless of the circumstances surrounding them. When the vine is healthy, so is the fruit. He is the perfect, righteous, powerful vine filled with mercy, love, joy, hope and faith. What else could they need? He taught them this the night before He would die. Facing the most unimaginable truth of what was going to be His fate tomorrow, He spent hours preparing them.
We too must lay aside our fears and worries concerning what others might say or do to us. Instead, speak truth and light into the darkness around us. Our love must urge us to tell our children and friends, He is the only most important One to know, love, and adore. He is our strength, hope, joy, Savior and Lord. Only in Him is fullness of life. We must tell everyone we meet of who He is. That is the greatest mission we can have in this world. Nothing else matters as much as Him.
Lesson #5 Victory Jesus Displayed in His prayer for us.
John 17 is a prayer bidding for the Father to protect all those who would come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. He asked for God’s joy, love and glory to be shared with us who deserve none of it. It is such a beautiful prayer, placing the Father and Us as more important that Himself. I recommend you read this prayer every day until it is burned into your hearts and mind. How often do we when face pain, sorrow, or suffering only plead for our own comfort? Do we pray for the protection of those whom we love, knowing He can provide their every need better than we can?
When I truly believed I might die, my prayer became focused on my children. I knew God could provide for, teach, and guide them better than I ever could. In the end, He did not take me home. But, if He had, I was fully at peace, He would provide. Do your trust Him with your family and friends?
Lesson #6 Victory Jesus Displayed when facing His greatest trial and temptation
Jesus in His prayer in the garden of gethsemane displayed how to truly surrender everything into the Father’s Hands, trusting Him completely. The greatest agony Jesus was to face would be the three hours when the Father poured out all His wrath against sin upon His son. Meanwhile the Holy Spirit withdrew also as He could not comfort Jesus during those hours. He could not enwrap Jesus in His Father’s love and joy. Jesus knew this was what He must face. Never separated from the Father’s love.
This trial was unimaginable. Temptation to call down legions of angels to release Him from this. Furthermore, He was forsaken by everyone except John and His mother. Beaten to beyond recognition; His body ripped apart. Dehydration would ravage His human flesh. Agony beyond agony. And He knew what He was facing as He prayed.
Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. Matthew 26: 36-46
What does this mean for us?
The cup He spoke of was the cup of God’s wrath which is described in Psalm 75:8, Isaiah 51:17, Jeremiah 25:15-1 and Revelation 14:10. Always it refers to God Justice, Holiness, and Righteousness that could not tolerate sin. He knows that it is sin that destroys everything else, fracturing our relationship with His Goodness.
Yet, in the face of such temptation and suffering, Jesus Christ submitted fully into the will of the Father. Knowing the Father intimately, He trusted Him with all His heart and being. So can we. No trial nor temptation we face will ever match that of Jesus. Complete surrender to the Father’s will give us victory, hope, joy, and peace.
Lesson #7 Victory Jesus Displayed as He was Betrayed
Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.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.
Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. John 18: 4-13
Now having fully surrendered to the Father’s will, Jesus is bold and marches toward the soldiers. 600 soldiers could not hold Him if He was not surrendered completely to what the Father desired of Him. His strength and willingness to go shocked the soldiers. Furthermore, He said I AM the great I AM He whom you seek. Do not touch any of these men and let them go. They did let them go safely.
Conclusion:
15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba,Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Romans 8 NKJV
All who know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior can experience the Victory Jesus Displayed, by fully surrendering to His will. He is everything you will ever need.
*All scripture used today is KJV unless otherwise denoted.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2025
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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New King James Version (NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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