23: Triumph Comes Disguised

Galen

Aug 7

John 11:50 (NIV) - You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.

John 19:30 (NIV) - When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Sometimes it is hard to recognize a victory when it stares you right straight in the face. It is often much easier to see defeat than to recognize victory.

Such was the case with the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. When he was killed, it wasn't clear what would happen to the civil rights movement. Would it hold together or fall apart? Would violence flare up and consume the country?

At his funeral service, many people spoke out about Dr. King, but the most moving of them all was James Bevel. He got up to the podium, heavy and stern-faced, and in a voice that grew and rose like a hurricane wind coming ashore, he said, "There is a false rumor going around that our leader is dead. Our leader is not dead. Martin Luther King is not our leader." He paused and let the words sink in, shocking as they were, for a funeral service for the slain leader. Some wondered if he was using the moment to try to garner support for himself as the next leader, but then he went on:

"Our leader is the Man who led Moses out of Israel. Our leader is the Man who went with Daniel into the lion's den! Our leader is the man who walked out of the grave on Easter morning. Our leader neither sleeps nor slumbers. He cannot be put in jail. He has never lost a war yet. Our leader is still on the case. Our leader is not dead. One of His children died. We will not stop because of that."

Powerful stuff. He realized what many there perhaps had not realized: triumph is often disguised as failure. As an end. A conclusion. When in reality it may just be the beginning of something new and better than we could possibly dream of.

In Jesus' case, the leaders wanted him dead in order to protect the nation. They feared what Rome might do because of the furor that Jesus' stirred up with his preaching and teaching – that his followers may get out of hand and a disaster would result. So they killed him. It looked like a disaster, but it was a victory. It looked like the end, but it was the beginning.

Our leader is not dead. You may be facing what looks to be a defeat in your life. Give it to God. Let Him make it into a victory in His own way. Our leader is not dead. He will not leave you abandoned or broken. Triumph, like joy, comes in the morning!

PRAYER: When we tend to withdraw from the struggle and fear failure, remind us, Lord, that You are our Leader and that You will never be vanquished! In Jesus' name, Amen.

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