Suffering, resurrection and Christian love – day 8

When the church father, Polycarp, was bound at the stake in the Middle Ages, he was promised that he would be released if he denied that Jesus existed. To this, he replied, “The Lord is so good to me. Why would I deny him! He was willing to die for me!”

Hope is holding on to Jesus in your most dire circumstances and distressful moments, because you know that with the resurrection, Jesus achieved the greatest victory ever. Jesus gave you and me a new life. He conquered death and the impermanence of life. This victory mind-set enables you to overcome many temptations, sins and bad habits. It enables you to live out the love and righteousness of Jesus fearlessly – nobody can take away it from you. It is this attitude that enabled Polycarp to stand firm and know death was overcome – he was not afraid of it. He knew that no man could take away his eternal life and the love of Jesus.

Sometimes, Christians experience a lot of scorn and antagonism, because their testimonies of love and righteousness make them different from the world. Jesus’ victory over death means that we do not have to fear the world. We can stand up fearlessly and proclaim that love and righteousness of Jesus to anyone. If you live like Jesus, the worst thing that can happen to you on earth is death. And Jesus has already defeated that!

Jesus is risen indeed! This is the unbelievable victory news of hope that I want to share with you once more!