VICTORY HILL

Shout “Victory!” on the highest hill.

Shout “Joy!” where the valleys fill.

Jesus is no longer dead!

Cry “Savior!” to the meadow’s end.

Cry “Friend!” where the willows bend.

Jesus fulfilled what was said!

Yell “Freedom!” to the birch trees far.

Yell “Hope!” to the furthest star.

Jesus was raised from the dead!

Speak “Mercy!” to the babbling brook.

Speak “Life!” to the woodland nook.

Jesus has done all he said!

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 during Passover over 2000 years ago. We remembered Good Friday when our Savior shed His blood on the cross for us. Nails didn’t hold Him to the cross. Love did!

And now, it is Easter! Only the LIVING GOD could raise His Son from the dead! And only He can promise to do that for us who believe.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:9-10

Salvation: It’s the best thing.

Only the Living God could form dirt molecules into the man Adam. 

Only the Living God can reassemble ashes to resurrect a once-living person.

Only the Living God can reconnect DNA because He created the DNA.

Everything Jesus said was and is true. Death has no hold or sting for those who trust in God through Jesus Christ.

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 as there is no other cure found in anyone else. God, the Remedy Maker, provides the remedy. Forgiveness of sins is through belief in Jesus who ‘must be lifted up’, a reference to the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Sin is forgiven through the atoning death of Christ on the cross.

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. He is alive today! Because He lives, we can shout “Victory!” on the highest hill and spread the news around the woodland realm, or wherever we are.

The snow is gone, here in Veery Glade. Leeks and trilliums appear from spring rains and sunshine. Buds are forming on the trees. Birds are singing. The ground is drying out. Spring faithfully returns. What a reward after winter!

Let us keep praying for an end to the coronavirus pandemic. Pray for integrity to walk through problems with God’s help. Stay faithful with a prayer list. I trust you know praying is doing business with God. Go to a woodland nook and thank the Lord. Pull up a rock and meet God with petitions and joys.

Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvelous kindness in a strong city.

Psalm 31:21

Climb Victory Hill and enjoy the view made possible by Christ’s marvelous kindness.