Do Not Mistake the Cross as a Defeat

Five-Minute Friday: DEFEAT

It is easy for us to get confused about things like success and defeat. There are many funny quotes on the topic of success, but most don’t like to talk about defeat. Most like to talk about their victories and triumphs, not their failures and losses.

One man, however, looked like a loser, but he declared success.

When the religious and political enemies of the Messiah finished their work, it looked like the grand words and promises of the man they called Jesus were eliminated. They were mistaken. What looked like defeat was victory. Jesus was saying something very profound when he said, “It is finished.” He did not say, “I am finished.” (John 19:28-30)

Paul told the church in Corinth the reality of the resurrection. Without the resurrection, death is not defeated. Because of the resurrection it is.

1 Corinthians 15:54 “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’”

1 Corinthians 15:55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

1 Corinthians 15:57 “but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Don’t be mistaken. Death is really a gain. But there is a qualifier. It is only in Christ.

How to Identify a Follower of Jesus

Paul summed it up in twelve words: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

Five Minute Friday

This post is part of the weekly Five-Minute Friday link-up.

All scripture passages are from the English Standard Version except as otherwise noted.