Christ’s victory is ours!

Rev. Robert Mohns

by Robert Mohns

The 75th anniversary of VE Day (“Victory in Europe” Day) was observed on May 8, 2019. The day celebrates the acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender. Canadians had been at war since September 1939. By 1945, wearied of war, the country was in a hopeful, festive mood—eager for victory and ready for peace.

One of the last tasks given to the Canadian Armed Forces was the liberation of the Netherlands. The country had been deprived of essential food and medical supplies. Canadians brought the needed supplies with them and were cheered and welcomed as heroes.

The results of that peace and liberation endure to this day. Last year as I walked along the northern part of the Spanish peninsula, I was overtaken by a couple of young men from the Netherlands. When they saw the Canadian flag on my backpack, they ran up beside me and said thank you. I wondered about the cause of their thanksgiving, and they explained how grateful they were for the Canadian Forces liberation of their country. It was heartwarming to hear them recounting their stories.

Through His saving work—His suffering, death, and resurrection—Jesus provides the greatest liberation from our most powerful enemies and has provided us with a peace that endures forever.

Through His saving work—His suffering, death, and resurrection—Jesus provides the greatest liberation from our most powerful enemies and has provided us with a peace that endures forever.

Paul, in that great resurrection chapter, lays out for us the results of Christ’s victory, writing, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:56–58).

The effects of our Lord’s victory over sin, death, and devil remain to this day. In Holy Baptism we who live parched lives, deprived of life itself, have been revived. In Jesus’ victory over sin He has released us who were bound in the bonds of shame and guilt. In the Lord’s provision of His own body and blood, the medicine of immortality, we who were starved and beaten down have been given food for our strengthening and healing. In the victory of Christ’s work we who were far from hope have been given a hope and a future. We who were once subject to interment into death have been given eternal life.

We have quite an incredible story to tell of our liberation! We have quite a life to live as those who have been given Jesus’ victory, His perfect life, His death, His resurrection. God grant that through the proclamation of the Gospel He would fill our hearts with overwhelming joy and thanksgiving for our Lord’s victory. And may He stir in us a desire to bring the aid of the Gospel to those who are in need.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:15–16).

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Rev. Robert Mohns is Regional Pastor for Lutheran Church-Canada’s West Region.

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