Victory Hill

I will shout “Victory!” on the highest hill.
I will shout “Joy!” where the valleys fill.
Jesus is no longer dead!

Will you cry “Savior!” to the meadow’s end?
Will you cry “Friend!” where the willows bend?
Jesus fulfilled what was said!

Yell with me “Freedom!” to the fir trees far.
Yell with me “Hope!” to the furthest star.
Jesus was raised from the dead!

I will speak “Mercy!” to the babbling brook.
I will speak “Life!” to the woodland nook.
Jesus has done all he said!

And then I will kneel where the grass is deep
and give to the Lord my soul to keep.
Jesus is no longer dead!


And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:8-11


VICTORY HILL

On Palm Sunday, we celebrated our Lord Jesus Christ’s humble entry into Jerusalem on a donkey amidst palm branches waving around 2000 years ago during the Passover. We observed Good Friday as we remembered our Savior’s shed blood for us on the cross. Because of His great love for us, His creation, He willingly went to the cross knowing not everyone would believe.

And now, it is Easter! Only the LIVING GOD could raise His Son from the dead! Only the LIVING GOD could form dirt molecules into the man Adam and also reassemble ashes gone by to resurrect a once-living person. Only the LIVING GOD can reconnect all known DNA to the right persons, even those who at sea. He created the DNA! We’re just traveling through. Our home is in Heaven. Everything Jesus said was and is true. Death has no hold on our eternal Redeemer. Death has no sting for those who trust in God through Jesus Christ. I trust you know this.

It was a difficult journey and people grumbled along the way as Moses led them out of bondage in Egypt into the Promised Land. But in easy and difficult times, it is best to keep trusting God who loves and provides.

And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.

And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it on a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
Numbers 21: 4-9

A remedy for sin was provided to the people. All who looked to God's remedy were healed. Jesus, who referred to this Old Testament event when teaching about his death, said:

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up. 
John 3:14-15

The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up

Jesus is the only one who can save. No other cure is found in anyone else! God the Remedy Maker has provided the remedy. Forgiveness of sins is realized through Jesus who ‘must be lifted up’, a reference to the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Sin we have committed is forgiven through the atoning death of Christ on the cross. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, the Son of God.

The Israelites looked to the brass serpent God instructed Moses to make and they were healed. We must look to Jesus for healing. The just shall live by faith in what Jesus did on our behalf. Trust God’s remedy to be made right with Him so that you can claim this passage:

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 

Death, the final enemy, is conquered. Because Jesus was obedient unto death, God exalted Him to the highest place and made His name above every name. He is alive! Today, you can count on Jesus being alive and very well. I trust you know that God’s provisions are nothing short of miraculous! Because He lives, we can face tomorrow.

Here, in Veery Glade, the snow was gone yesterday. But this morning, there was a blanket of snow on the ground. It's the cha-cha—two steps forward, one step back! We usually have that in spring and fall. But other days, spring rains and sunshine are awakening leeks and trilliums. Buds are forming on the trees. More and more birds are singing. Many are busy building nests. The ground is drying out. There’s not much green yet but it’s coming. Spring faithfully returns, which shouldn’t be a surprise from the faithful Creator of it.

Let us pray for an end to this coronavirus pandemic. Let us keep walking in our integrity and being the Lord’s servant as people in the past were in their day and through their troubles. May their example encourage us. Let us rejoice on Victory Hill, knowing death, the final enemy, has been conquered by the One we follow!

Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
John 13:7

Happy Easter to you! (a little late!)
Enjoy the view of life after death in revealed knowledge and maintained patience.