But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1. Corinthians 15:57)
We all know the story of the birth of Jesus: "And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:12). It was a defenseless newborn who was to become the greatest power in the world, overcoming even Satan and death (a).
If I follow Jesus in the Gospels, then I feel a peace despite his eventful life. He was constantly on the road, demonstrating his power in signs and wonders: water in wine in Kaana (b), healing of a women who had suffered from a discharge of blood (c) or raising the son of a widow from the dead (d). No rush, only quiet progress, followed by the hardest moments in his life: the way to Gethsemane and his pleading (e), the arrest and questioning, the lashing and at the end the crucifixion, the sign of the greatest shame and powerlessness.
Without this sacrifice of Jesus, Christmas would have no meaning. Jesus has won the victory through gentleness and humility. He did not resist and even healed one of those who was supposed to arrest him (f). He could have asked his father for a legion of angels and would have got away with life.
What does all this mean for me in a world where violence and aggression prevail and only the one who shouts the loudest wins? How do we overcome and how do we achieve victory over adversities that we encounter? The life of Jesus teaches us, that there is another power that will eventually prevail, even if it may not look like that. This path is unattractive and the opposite of what works in the world: forgive where I'm hurt, love my enemies, do good to those who hate me, bless those who curse me, pray for those who abuse me (g) and not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (h).
We can not do all this on our own, because it contradicts what is in our flesh, that is nothing good. "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1. Corinthians 15:57)
I wish that we all get more and more the courage to follow the way of Jesus and not defend or revenge by force, but to let work the Holy Spirit in us and through us - the other power.
It is worth reading these biblical passages:
I recommend listening to this song: Was für ein Mensch
Be blessed!