Victory In Christ

Do you remember when Jesus told His disciples: “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you cannot bear it now”? (John 16:12).

Jesus’ disciples were not offended to hear this because they recognized that they needed to absorb so much more from their Teacher, and Jesus knew that He would soon send the Holy Spirit for this purpose. Yet in their present state the disciples knew nothing about new life in Christ or the gifts of the Holy Spirit because Jesus had not yet died to pay for their salvation. 

Later after Jesus died, while still in the grave, the apostle Peter, acting as a leader of the bunch, in his despondency over seeing Jesus’ crucifixion and death, said: “I’m going fishing.” … going back to his trade as a fisherman, as if all they had experienced through their time with Jesus was for naught.

But, hallelujah! After Jesus’ resurrection He told Mary to hurry to tell Peter that He was alive just as He foretold and promised. This was life-changing for Peter. And after the Holy Spirit fell on them in the upper room, Peter was the one who preached to 3000 who were then saved that day. And think of how God later used Peter to perform miracles and write two New Testament Books. What a transformation.

1 Peter 1:3-5, 9: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time… for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”