Wednesday, October 6, 2010

The Greatest Comeback of All Time


There is something compelling to me about a great comeback story. Last night I watched a documentary about how in October of 2004 the Boston Red Sox came from a 3-0 deficit to beat their rivals the New York Yankees. They had to win 4 games in a row. That is something that had never happened before.

It happened because of the heroic pitching of Curt Schilling in game six. He'd had surgery on his ankle and pitched with blood coming through his sock. Yes... playing for the Boston Red Sox;-)

David Ortiz and Johnny Damon were amazing at the plate. They both rose to the occasion in the last four games. Ortiz was clutch and Damon hit a grandslam in the final game.

As I watched this, there was a great bit of emotion that welled up in me and I don't really like baseball. The documentary showed how people had counted them out. News reporters dogged them. The city of Boston had surrendered and yet these guys pulled it out.

As good as this comeback was... it was not the best ever.

Over 2,000 years ago a man was said to be the savior of the world, the Messiah. He preached Good News. He healed the sick. Everything indicated that finally God was going to bring peace and order to the world.

But then Jesus was executed in the most heinous way known to man. He was crucified by the Romans who had become experts in death and suffering. His friends abandoned Him (Matthew 26:74-75). The crowds mocked Him (Matthew 27:42). God the Father turned His back on Him (Matthew 27:46) as the sin of the world was laid upon Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Two kind men laid Jesus’ dead body in a borrowed tomb. It seemed that sin had won again. The darkness appeared to have overcome the light. And then…

Three days later Jesus was raised from the dead. In His death He overcame the power and punishment of sin. In His raised life He overcame death and brought eternal life to our dying world.

Now whoever believes in this will be saved.

You can join the comeback story. You can be a part of eternal history. Confess to God that you have sinned. Ask the risen Christ to forgive you and to give you His holiness. Live in the grace of God by faith and win in the victorious Christ.

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