Isaiah 50:4-9; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 21:1-11
Introduction
The act of defeating an opponent or enemy in a war, game, or any competition is known as a victory. The occasion when you win a game, competition, election, war, etc. The fact that you have won, you are declared victorious. It is the final and complete supremacy or superiority in any form of competition or challenge. Apostle Paul says, "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV). Victory comes when we attain what is set before us.
"The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught." Isaiah 50:4 (ESV). I pray for you that, this month, you shall be opened to God's word with a new tongue, as your words sooth the weary and the broken heart to find victory, Amen!
The Jewish Expectation of the Messiah
There was an expectation of the Jewish people, that Messiah was coming. They expected Him to be a king of the moment; one who would make war upon the Romans and restore to the Jews their lost nationality in victory. Though many of them did not believe in Jesus Christ as their Spiritual faith, they still hoped that perhaps He might be to them a great deliverer and restore the kingdom to them. The Pharisees quizzed Him on the coming of the kingdom (Luke 17:20). We read that on some occasions they would have taken Jesus and made Him a king, "Perceiving then that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by Himself." John 6:15 (ESV).
There was an anxious desire that somebody should lift the standard of rebellion and lead the people against their oppressors, the Romans. Seeing the mighty things which Jesus did, He fit their expected victorious leader and they imagined that He might probably restore to Israel the kingdom and set them free.
Jesus came to save the lost souls and restore us to God's Kingdom. The mandate of Jesus at this point is much bigger than seeing Him as a revolutionary leader battling against Roman rule.
He came to save others, and not to be made a king as they expected of Him. The Lord Jesus had worked a most remarkable miracle; He had raised Lazarus from the dead after he had been buried for four days.
[read https://www.osofoahenkan.com/2023/03/dry-bones-shall-live-again.html]
This was a miracle so novel and so astounding, that it became town talk. Multitudes went out of Jerusalem to Bethany, which was only about two miles distant, to see Lazarus. The miracle was well authenticated; there were multitudes of witnesses; it was generally accepted as being one of the greatest marvels of the age, and they drew the inference from it and the many others that Jesus must be the Messiah. The people at this point determined to make Jesus a king, and that now He should lead them against the hosts of Rome.
With the people's enthusiasm, Jesus seized it as an opportunity to demonstrate that which had been written of Him by the prophets, “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” Matthew 21:5 (ESV)
"Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road." (Matthew 21:8). My dear, do not mistake by assuming that all those who spread the branches in the way and cried “Hosanna” cared about Jesus as the Christ - the Messiah and Saviour of their souls. No, they thought that He was their temporal king, deliverer, a restorer of the Jewish kingdom. At this point, the Jews were slaves in their own land and they sought the Messiah would restore them.
But when they found out afterward that they were mistaken, they hated Him just as much as they had loved Him, and “Crucify Him, crucify Him,” was as loud and vehement as the sound of “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” Matthew 21:9 (ESV) It was needful that the prophecy should be fulfilled.
The prophet Isaiah draws our attention to the fact that our help in times of trials and tribulations is in the Lord saying, "But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame." Isaiah 50:7 (ESV). Always remember that the God of the mountain is the same God of the valley; the God of the morning is the God of the night. Though the sorrows may last for a night, victory comes in the morning.
It was needful again, that He should make a public claim to be the Son of David; and that He should claim to be the rightful inheritor of David’s throne; — this He did on this occasion, "Palm Sunday".
It was needful, too, that he should leave His enemies without excuse. In order that they might not say, “If thou be the Messiah, tell us plainly,” He made the triumphant entry to tell them plainly. This riding through the streets of Jerusalem was as plain, a manifesto and proclamation of Jesus' royal rights as could possibly have been issued.
Three (3) Characteristics of Victorious Christian
Christ's victory has propelled us into divine victory. Are victorious Christians reflecting the victory Christ won for us? Apostle Paul reflects, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?" Romans 8:35 (ESV). Beloved in Christ Jesus, we are more than conquerors because Jesus Christ has won the victory for us.
1. The Victorious Christian is Faithful.
Christ was faithful to God and fulfilled every prophecy about Him even in death. It is not as though we are victorious so we are immune to distraction, pain, suffering, or even worldly desires. Therefore, "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, … And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient [faithful] to the point of death, even death on a cross." Philippians 2:5,8 (ESV) A victorious Christian is a faithful mother, faithful father, faithful public servant, faithful trader/businessman, faithful employee, or CEO.
2. The victorious Christian makes Spiritual Progress.
It is erroneous to think that victorious Christians do not struggle with sin. The truth is that the victorious Christian struggles with sin more than anyone else. as we empty ourselves, God fills us with the needed strength to make spiritual progress, "who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." Philippians 2:6-7 (ESV). Victory then is not, the stoppage of sin. It is staying in the fight diligently and continuing to move forward in our relationship with Jesus.
3. The Victorious Christian Persevere.
Victory is awarded to only those who complete the competition or the war. The victorious Christian is one who finishes the race well. Keep on keeping on. "I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting." Isaiah 50:6 (ESV). Never ever give up, keep persevering to the end and God will surely grant the victory. The prophet continues by saying, "But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame." Isaiah 50:7 (ESV). Jesus declared His humble Kingship and kept moving to die on the cross. Because He persevered, "God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11 (ESV). Victory is in our perseverance.
Conclusion
The victory of Christ is demonstrated only in the victorious living of children of God. Have been a living witness to this victory or has given up already? His victory gives us the strength and encouragement to face this dark world with the light He reflects in us. My dearest in Christ Jesus, please rise up in victory for the crown of glory. Amen!
Shalom aleichem...
