Comebacks

On July 6, 2010, the Colorado Rockies engineered one of the greatest comebacks in major league baseball history. The visiting St. Louis Cardinals took a 9 - 3 lead into the last half of the ninth inning. The Rockies were down to their final 3 outs. Rarely does a team ever overcome such a large deficit in their last at-bat. But Colorado defied the odds on that day. After struggling to put just 3 runs on the board through the first 8 innings, they exploded for 9 runs in the last half of the 9th for the win. Not many teams have ever accomplished such a feat. In fact, according to those who keep track of such statistics, it was only the third time in major league history that a team scored nine or more runs in the last inning of a walk-off win. The other two both occurred way back in 1901. What an amazing comeback!

May I share with you the story of an even greater comeback -- the greatest comeback of all? The battered body of Jesus was lying in its borrowed tomb. Some friends had given the body of their Master what little attention they could before the Sabbath and then gently placed it in darkened recesses of Joseph’s burial chamber. They would return after the Sabbath to complete the burial preparations. The disciples of Jesus were scattered, fearful for their own lives. Most among the Jewish leadership were likely glad to finally be rid of the blasphemous impostor from Nazareth. And Satan himself must have been been sporting a devilish grin, thinking he had finally triumphed over God Himself. Game over, right???

Wrong! God wasn’t done yet. He had one more at bat and, by the time the dust settled on that eventful weekend, the score would be reversed. Jesus Christ was raised from the dead by the power of God, defeating sin and death in the process. No extra innings needed in this contest! The saved of all ages can lift the banner of Christ high and truly proclaim: Game over!

God loves you!
Mike