by VICTORY
One of the greatest lessons I learnt this Holy week and about life in general is that some of the people who hate you, betray you and oppose what you stand for, also end up leading you to Victory without meaning to do so. If you agree with me on this, then you are about to define the meaning of Victory in your life; you are about to redesign a new strategy of happiness. Victory happens when you stop expecting the world to affirm you as a person; because in this world, half of the people will like you and the other half will hate you, no matter what you say or do.
Let’s take the story of Jesus Christ for example (as Peter recalls in Acts 10: 34, 37-43), who came into the world and went about doing good (v. 38). He recruited a few confidants, with the hope of using them to establish a kingdom of love, but some of them betrayed him, while others stuck with him till the end. He was consequently handed over to be crucified. They mocked, scourged and finally crucified the very man who had the power to give life (v.39). At last the cross he was crucified on became the symbol of Victory after he rose again on the third day (vs.40-41). That’s victory for you.
Some have likened the story of Jesus to some leaders in the recent past. In 2015, the then Nigerian President Jonathan lost election to his opponent. He had the power to manipulate himself to win, but he did not. Rather he accepted the humiliation of his defeat and turned around to congratulate his opponent. That’s Victory. Nelson Mandela of South Africa spent 27 years in prison, came out to forgive his jailers and subsequently became President himself. That’s Victory.
Lets focus again on Jesus and how his story effects our life. In the gospel we hear about a certain unnamed disciple who followed Jesus to Calvary and remained with him throughout his Passion while others like Judas betrayed him and Peter ran away. After the resurrection, this unnamed disciple ran faster than Peter, “saw and believed” whereas Peter though seeing the same thing did not believe. Confronted with the signs of death (the tomb, the linen cloths and the shroud) the unnamed disciple recognized the victory of life while Peter could not (John 20: 1-9).
You are that unnamed disciple. You will see Victory if you endure the pain of whatever humiliation you have been through and will go through if you look ahead. Victory will be yours if you forgive those who betray you and focus your mind on something rather positive. Victory will be yours if you accept the fact that life is not all about you, but about the peace and happiness of the people you serve. Victory will be yours if you stop deceiving yourself that everyone must like you and agree with you and affirm you because that can never happen.
Begin now to understand the meaning of the Cross and how it can lead you to your resurrection (Victory) as it did to Jesus. Happy Easter !
