Victory in Jesus
by Gary Johnson
Throughout 2025, we have sought to live like Jesus. Each month, we have focused on a trait in the life of Jesus, hoping to make 1 John 2:6 a reality in each of our lives, that if “we claim to be Christians, we must live as Jesus lived.” As we come now to December, think victory.
The holiday season is officially upon us. Christmas is in full swing. Calendars are filled, holiday decorations are up, the lights are lit and carols are being sung.
When we think of Christmas music, one particular carol states, “Joy to the world, the Lord has come.” Yet, though this time of year is typically joyful for most people, a growing number of individuals experience just the opposite. It could be said that they describe this time of year as a “Blue Christmas,” much like the lyrics of the song made famous when Elvis Presley performed it. The loss of a loved one to death, the loss of a job or of a marriage and family can make this time of year far from joyful.
In 1939, a song was written out of pain and suffering, and that song has become known around the world while being sung by millions, and that song is Victory in Jesus. Eugene Monroe Bartlett (1885-1941), a gifted musician and composer, had suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed and unable to travel and teach. Having composed several hundreds of songs, Victory in Jesus would be his last and his most famous as it reminded him, whiling declaring to others, that our victory now and forever is in Jesus Christ.
Victory is a powerful word. Whether individually, or mutually as family and friends, we want to win. We want victory over illness and injury. We want victory over paralyzing addictions and attitudes. We want victory over depression and despair. We even want victory over broken families, friendships and finances. No one wants to lose. We want to win. And that victory can be found in Jesus.
From the moment Jesus was immersed and began His ministry (Matthew 3:13-17), He began a battle with the enemy. Once the identity of the Messiah was known, Satan went after Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11). It was ‘game on,” and more. Jesus was engaged in an epic battle on our behalf against the forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). When Jesus died on a cross, it appeared to His followers that He had lost the battle. Yet, three days later, His empty tomb declared that Jesus had won the victory over sin and death for us.
Jesus experienced victory – and so can we. When our losses seem to be piling up, suffering is on the rise and pain is increasing, lean into these three essentials modeled by Jesus Himself.
Power
When Jesus was immersed, the Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove. When we are immersed, we receive the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We get a roommate – a most holy roommate! Just as the Spirit empowered Jesus to pursue ministry (Acts 10:38), the Spirit empowers us to pursue life. No matter how difficult life becomes, we can have Jesus’ victory through the power of the Spirit, “for greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Remember, Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). To finish strong, we press on, one step at a time, in the power of the Spirit.
Prayer
Have you noticed how many times Jesus prayed? Over and again, Jesus prayed. When a batter hits a baseball, he always runs to first base. While on the road of life, we are often “hit by something out of left field,” so, when suffering, failures and hardships strike, always run first to God! Prayer was in the spiritual DNA of Jesus (Mark 1:35), and it must be in ours as well. When we pray, we humble ourselves and admit to God that we need Him. Moreover, when we ask others to pray with and for us, we again humble ourselves, admitting we need them to pray on our behalf.
Purpose
Do you remember the prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane? Not once, but three times, Jesus prayed the same thing: “Father, if it be possible, may this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will but your will be done” (Matthew 26:36-46). Jesus surrendered to the will of God, knowing fully well that extreme, indescribable suffering was about to happen. The cup of God’s wrath, rage, and fury was about to be poured out on Jesus while on the cross when the sins of humanity were put on Him (Isaiah 51:17, 53:6). There was profound purpose in the suffering of Jesus with eternal blessings beyond measure.
To experience victory in our lives, we must live like Jesus in the power of the Spirit, with prevailing prayer, as we remember the purpose of suffering.
We will long remember June 6, 1944. Known as D-Day, the Allied forces stormed beaches near Normandy, France, fighting an epic battle against Nazi Germany. Thousands of ships and planes brought tens of thousands of soldiers to those beaches, many of whom paid the ultimate price of war with their lives. Once the smoke cleared and fighting ceased at Normandy, it was decided who would win the war. Nazi Germany was about to fall to the Allied forces. Yet, World War 2 raged on, with millions more soldiers and civilians losing their lives before the war against Germany finally ended on May 8, 1945, “Victory in Europe Day.”
Think with me. As Christians, we are engaged in a great war that has raged since Genesis 3, and it is with the kingdom of darkness. Regretfully, untold numbers of people have fallen victim to the devil and his kingdom. Yet, it was decided who would win this war when Jesus died on a cross and was raised from the dead. His resurrection is our D-Day! Yet, the war between the kingdom of God and dominion of darkness continues to rage in this world, and regretfully, there are mounting casualties of spiritual warfare. This war, like WW2 and all others, will finally come to an end. The second coming of Jesus is our VICTORY Day!
Is this a “blue Christmas” for you? Does it seem as if losses appear in every direction? Is this time of year anything but joyful? Through the strong, constant presence of the Holy Spirit in us, we may hear ourselves sing Victory in Jesus along with ever-famous Christmas carols. You and I can stand on the promise declared by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
