Life can be overwhelming at times. Sorrows surround us. Challenges keep growing. There are moments in which I want to just stop. My body does not recover like it use to. There are all the difficulties of growing older. Then the more I want to complete for Christ, the louder I hear the accuser screaming, “you failed again.” Even at work there is that nagging sensation, I should get more done, faster. Why did I not get more done? Am I good enough? Even more haunting is the question, “Am I good enough to accomplish all that God desires?” So, there are moments when doubt and sorrow overwhelms my heart. It is such a time as this that I must remember the cross and Christ’s resurrection. He has declared my victory. So how does Christ’s Resurrection guarantee Victory?
Let us take a moment to look at His death on the cross and our Victory because He lives. It was a day when sorrow overwhelms the crowd, as Jesus was led to the cross. Was it not sorrow in the garden of gethsemane that caused Jesus to cry great drops of blood? Surely, as God, He knew the degree of wrath His Father would need to pour out upon Him to justly satisfy the payment for all our sins. Did He see in the corridor of time the moment, one split second when He would feel as though He were abandoned by the Father? Yet, if He were to be tempted in all ways as we are, He would feel that. After all, do we not cry out that very cry? We feel the pain as sorrow overwhelms; but He bore our greatest grief as well.
When Sorrow Overwhelms
I cannot imagine the depth of sorrow felt by Mary as her son was beaten, spit upon, mocked, and hung upon the cross. The apostles confused, although He had told them of the plans. Yet, they did not believe He would die on the cross. Nor did they understand how He allowed the soldiers to take Him. How could He guarantee Victory over death by dying? It was all so confusing, and life did not make sense. Then, as He hung upon the cross it was like no other day. At noon, the skies when dark. At that moment, the Father began to pour forth upon His Son all the fury against sin that could be poured. Remember the flood? Or the time when the earth opened so all those who rebelled against God were swallowed up? Yes, God hates sin with a ferocious anger.
For Perfect Righteousness to justly pardon our sin, the full price had to be paid by someone. That someone was Jesus Christ, His Precious and Beloved son. Were He not to keep focus on the joy set before Him, Jesus could never have endured! He keeps His eyes on us, with love. We know this. After all, one of His words from that cross was, “Father, forgive them.” He forgave the one thief who believed the truth of Jesus. Furthermore, with compassion He spoke to His mother. Then the three hours of darkness fell upon Him. When sorrow overwhelms, remember His cry, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” He understands your desperate cry.
Furthermore
Indeed, this was a psalm of David. Psalm 22 began with these very words; but halfway through the song it says. “You have answered me… I will praise you.
You loyal followers of the Lord praise him.” Did He remind Himself and His followers of the conclusion to guarantee victory?
Guarantee Victory
Then, He cried forth, “It is finished. Into your hands I commend my spirit. Then He bowed His head and gave up the ghost.” His life was not taken from Him. His voice remained strong. No one had taken His life. He gave it up for us. No one noticed this more than the Centurion who witnessed it all.
Matthew 27: 45 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
Remember how Jesus had prayed, “Forgive them, they know not what they do.” This Roman centurion who took part in His death was one of the first who were saved. Is that not amazing? Such amazing grace.
Christ’s Resurrection
But none of this would matter if He did not raise from the dead. It was Christ’s resurrection that would guarantee victory over sin and death for all who believe in Him. This life is filled with pains, sorrows, death, struggles and tragedies. But when sorrow overwhelms our hearts, we must only remember that He knows our sorrows. He provided the victory. It is as Paul wrote, “ If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” But He did rise from the grave and left behind many witnesses and proof. (To read more go to: 4 Reasons I know He is Risen and Hope Reigns )
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by [a]Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have [b]fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. I Corinthians 15:
The truth that does Guarantee Victory.
Yes, Jesus rose from the grave. For that reason, When Sorrow Overwhelms, we need only remember Christ’s Resurrection. We have that same power within us if we know Him as our Lord and Savior. That truth does guarantee victory.
Ephesians 115 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.
18 (That) the eyes of your [f]understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality[g] and [h]power and [i]might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
This is my prayer for you and me today. That when sorrow overwhelms, remember the exceeding greatness of His power toward you.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to 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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Disclosures
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
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.
Credits
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.