The Sacrifice AND the Victory

Holy Week is a special week for those who profess to be Christ-followers. It’s the week that we intentionally pause to remember all that our Savior did for us; and what He did was indeed marvelous.

The fact that we serve a God who humbled himself to become a human sacrifice and who willingly died the most horrific of deaths upon a criminal’s cross is enough to make even the most skeptical of mankind confess that He is Lord (see Philippians 2). 

However, so much of our focus usually rests in the sacrifice and we neglect to give the resurrection the attention that it is due. I am NOT saying that we should gloss over the crucifixion and all that it represents as I am a firm believer that without the cross we would not receive the life-changing gift of forgiveness (Hebrews 9:22). But what I am saying is that we should not mentally leave Jesus hanging on that cross. 

The turning point for all creation and the lynchpin for Christianity as a whole is the fact that Jesus did not stay dead, but that He rose from the grave! Had Jesus only died for our sins and not resurrected, that would liken Him to any other self-professing god. The victory exists only because we have a Savior who defeated death.He is the one true God and the resurrection proves it.

So this Easter season, I invite you to reflect on the magnitude of the sacrifice that Jesus paid for you and respond accordingly. But also remember to celebrate the victory of the empty tomb and worship the resurrected King!

The women fell to the ground in worship. The men in white said to them, “Why would you look for the living One in a tomb? He is not here, for he has risen!” ~ Luke 24:5