JESUS' VICTORY IS OUR VICTORY

At the final Passover (Last Supper) with His apostles, Jesus confirms that it is His “earnest desire” to eat with them (Luke 22:15,16). What was His desire? Jesus was the Passover Lamb, blameless, sinless; a spotless Lamb; the Lamb to be sacrificed. Jesus was about to fulfill prophecy and become the Passover sacrifice by suffering and dying, and covering the whole earth with His blood for the forgiveness of sins for everyone forever, and restoration of our relationship to the Father (Hebrews 8:12; Hebrews 9:26,28; Hebrews 10:10). Everything was about to change! We were the joy that was set before Him as He pursued the completion of His purpose (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus’ body was about to be broken for us (Luke 22:19). His blood was about to be shed, signifying the New Covenant, His promise for mankind (Luke 22:20).

Yet, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was in agony. Knowing the reality of what was about to happen, He was deeply grieved and sorrowful (Matthew 26:38). He expressed that this cup might be taken away, but only if it was God’s will (Luke 22:42). Jesus knew that it was not the will of His Father to change the plan, and thus I believe the agony that He experienced; thus “His sweat became like great drops of blood” (Luke 22:44). It was necessary for the angels to strengthen Jesus at this moment (Luke 22:43).

Although Jesus felt great distress in the Garden, He was not moved by the circumstance. His emotions did not change His mind to adhere to the Father’s will. It did not distract Him from His task, from believing in His Father and His plan for humanity. Jesus believed His Father because of their intimate relationship. I can imagine that Jesus encouraged Himself by remembering the faithfulness of God, recalling every time that the Father performed miracles and deeds of power through Him, all for His glory (Jesus 14:10). Jesus knew that the Father was mighty and able to keep His Word and do exactly what He said He would do; just like Abraham, Jesus believed (Romans 4:21)!

Jesus’ example is a powerful lesson for each of us. Believing does not require the dismissal of our circumstances, but a belief in the Word of God above anything else. An emotional response does not alter what God has said. The firmness of His plan, His Word does not change. All of His promises are Yes and Amen; it is impossible for God to lie (2 Corinthians 1:20; Hebrews 6:18)! For Jesus, circumstances did not dictate the outcome, only belief in what God said. Jesus exemplifies God’s instruction to us, that by faith and endurance we inherit His promises (Hebrews 6:12).

What great victory came from Jesus’ firm belief, perseverance, endurance, self-control and love (2 Peter 1:5-8)! He was rooted, established, strong, immovable and determined (1 Peter 5:9). Being well balanced on this foundation, the enemy was not able to devour Him (1 Peter 5:8). Praise God! He did this for each of us, that we may enjoy the abundance of life that He came to give us (John 10:10). Now we, as children of God, possess the same fruit of the Holy Spirit, as Jesus had; we have the same capability within our spirit to live as He lived; we have the nature of Jesus Christ (Galatians 4:6; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:22,23; 1 John 4:17; Hebrews 10:10)! This is our victory by the power of the cross and the resurrection of our Lord and Savior! When we remember His broken body and blood shed, we should remember our own victory in Him (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). We should remember who we are because of Jesus, and Whose we are because of Jesus!