RESURRECTION – THE SYMBOL OF VICTORY

Christianity would not have been a reality had the life of Jesus ended on the Cross. Crucification was not the climax of Jesus life. The keynote sounded by the early Christians following our Lord’s resurrection was victory. “Death is swallowed up in victory, O death, where is the victory? O grave, where is thy sting?... Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (I Cor. 15: 54-57)”. The New Testament heralds the glad conviction that through Jesus Christ, God has given us the victory: the victory over Satan:   the victory over everything that has gone wrong with God’s creation: victory over sin, evil and death.

1.       Victory over Sin

Sin has the power to enslave and encage us: the power to bury us alive in the tomb of guilt and despair. Christ liberates us from sin through his death and resurrection.

2.       Victory over demonic power

Gospels often portray Jesus casting out demons. The resurrected Christ does the same today granting us victory over all demonic forces that plague us and make our life a virtual hell:  the forces of hatred, envy, lust, greed etc.

3.       Victory over Self

Many Christians are not victorious, but defeated. Defeated by circumstances, defeated by sin, defeated by loss, pain, suffering and agony. They have never got up above the low-land of self centered life. They have yet to claim for themselves the victory of Christ by rising above their own self.

4.       Victory over death

The penultimate victory that resurrection imparts us is the victory over the invincible enemy, death. When we go through the valley of death, the consoling words of Jesus strengthen us.  The words of our Lord Jesus taken right from the heart of the Easter message “I am the Resurrection and Life” These words do something which nothing else can ever do. To be sure, the hurt and the loss are still there. But somehow, the word of the risen Lord gives us strength to go on and the assurance that death does not have the last word.  

Christian faith offers us victory: not escape. It enables us not to run away from life but to conquer through Christ who said “be of good cheer, I have overcome this world”.  

I wish you all a peaceful and joyful Easter.

Paulose Mar Milithios Metroploitan (Catholicos Designate)

Kymtha Perunal