The Victory Shout
He is risen!
Rev and I were discussing our weekend over brunch yesterday afternoon. I must admit that I consider myself very blessed to share my life with a man who loves to talk about faith, too.
One of the things we talked about was the differing ways we heard Jesus’ words, “It is finished,” portrayed over the last few days. Have you ever thought about how He spoke them? How that short phrase sounded to those standing at the foot of the cross?
Jesus was very near death. He had been on the cross for several hours. Crucifixion caused an individual to die of asphyxiation; so, often “it is finished” is spoken softly and with raspy breath as if the person is having difficulty breathing.
I’m not sure why . . . maybe I heard this differing point of view somewhere over the years, but I imagine them quite differently.
“It is finished!!”
I hear a victory shout!
I hear the voice of my Savior, rallying all of His Godly strength to announce His arrival at the finish line.
From His humble human birth . . . through years of living and learning first hand the challenges of life confined in a human body. Thirty-three long years ending with betrayal, false accusations, an unjust sentence, torment, the whip, spit, and mocking. Then finally the crown of thorns, the nails, and the cross.
He was reaching His goal – successfully. Never wavering. Never giving in to earthly emotions.
His perfect sacrifice near its end.
Imagine His Father coming back into view as the time of His turning away from His Son was over.
Oh, I definitely believe it was a victory shout!
As He looked back on the face of His Father knowing He had accomplished all that they had planned.
It says in Luke 23:46 – He shouted, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
He had won the victory over sin and death, He had defeated the enemy, and three days later His followers learned what all of heaven had known since Friday.
He’s alive!
One of these days He will return and all of heaven and earth will shout out in the victory cry!
Alleluia! Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!
He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.
Revelation 22:20–21