Victory Hill

Shout “Victory!” on the highest hill!

Shout “Joy!” where darkest valleys fill!

Jesus is no longer dead!

Cry “Savior!” to bleak meadow’s end!

Cry “Redeemer!” where old willows bend!

Jesus fulfilled what was said!

Yell “Hope!” to scattered fir trees far!

Yell “Freedom!” to the faintest star!

Jesus was raised from the dead!

Speak “Life!” to the wayward, babbling brook!

Speak “Friend!” to the shady, woodland nook!

Jesus has done all he said!

I kneel, in prayer, on Victory Hill,

and give my heart to God’s own will.

Jesus is no longer dead.

Ye are the light of the world.

A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Matthew 5:14

VICTORY HILL

On Palm Sunday, we celebrated our Lord Jesus Christ’s humble entry into Jerusalem around 2000 years ago during the Passover. He was heading for Calvary, for Golgotha, to bear the sins of the world by death on a cross. We observe Good Friday as we remember His sacrifice for us with His shed blood. Nails didn’t hold him to the cross. Love did.

And now, there is Easter.

Only the LIVING GOD could raise His Son from the dead.

Remember when Moses led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt? It was a difficult journey and the people grumbled along the way as Moses led them to the Promised Land.

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. Here are the words of Jesus who referred to this Old Testament event when teaching about his death:

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 us, sinners with no other cure. God has provided the remedy because He is the Remedy Maker. 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 Christ, 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 because we can’t heal ourselves and no one else can. Choice is salvation. 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 

Only our sovereign God, who is Creator God and the Living God, could raise His Son from the dead. Death, the final enemy, is conquered. Because Jesus was obedient unto death, God exalted Jesus Christ 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 doings are nothing short of miraculous.

The woman at the well had lived a less than stellar life. (Don’t we all fall short?) She had had five husbands and the man she was with now wasn’t even her husband. Being a woman, men didn’t talk to her in public. And she was a Samaritan, not a Jew. Yet, to this woman Jesus spoke and said:

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
John 4:14

She knew the Messiah would explain everything. He revealed His identity to her by telling her He is the Messiah. She went on to say, ‘Give me this water.’ 

Here in the woods, all the snow is finally gone. And, it’s greening up. Spring rains and sunshine are awakening long-sleeping plants like daffodils, glads, ferns and even leeks. Trilliums will be coming up soon. Buds are forming on the trees. Spring faithfully returns, which shouldn’t be a surprise from the faithful Creator of it. 
  
Are you rejoicing this Easter on Victory Hill, knowing death, the final enemy, has been conquered? Do you turn to God in prayer, asking for the living water and seeking His will for your life?

Happy Easter to you and enjoy the view of life after death in miraculous Peace!