Jesus wins!

by Thomas Prachar

President Thomas Prachar.

As spring weather struggles to settle in across our country, winter sports are winding down for another year. In hockey, minor leagues are well into their playoffs. The NHL’s long season is finally grinding to a halt as teams jockey for playoff positions. Fans and players are focused on their team winning the ultimate prize: the cup or trophy, plus all the monetary bonuses that go along with it, as well as the bragging rights throughout the summer.

For the players, everything leads to this moment. There is the constant conditioning of one’s body, the playing through nagging injuries. There is a mental toughness needed to be able to play game after game even when your heart may not be in it on a particular night. There are the endless practices, team meetings and travel. There can be strains on marriage and family life. There are sacrifices of time and relationships. But when a player hoists the trophy above his head in a victory celebration, all that has gone before is forgotten. To be sure, next year the players may need to remember the level of perseverance and dedication that got them to their ultimate goal. But for now, the focus is on celebration and victory.

As I write this, Easter is approaching. The forty days of Lent, though seemingly long, are almost behind us. We have witnessed again our Lord’s teaching and miracles. We have seen His great love for us by giving His perfect life as the necessary sacrifice for our sin. And we will rejoice again at His triumphant resurrection from the dead on Easter morning.

I suppose you could summarize Easter with just two words: “Jesus wins!” His victory over sin and death is now our victory.

I suppose you could summarize Easter with just two words: “Jesus wins!” His victory over sin and death is now our victory. His resurrection is our resurrection. The eternal life He won is now ours through faith. Our focus at Easter is on celebration and victory! We join with the apostle Paul in our victory chant: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? 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.” Jesus wins! Amen!

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Rev. Thomas Prachar is President of the Central District of Lutheran Church–Canada.

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