JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is Great Comebacks.
One of the most astonishing comebacks in football happened in the 1993 AFC Wild Card Game. The Buffalo Bills fell behind the Houston Oilers 35 to 3 in the second half. But backup quarterback Frank Reich rallied his team to an unforgettable comeback that left his team victorious at the final whistle-41 to 38.
That was an example of a team that recovered after they were down.
The Gospel is the story of a Savior who revived after He was dead. It is the greatest comeback of all time. This comeback reminds us that we are never in a hopeless place as long as we live with the resurrection power of Jesus. In Revelation 1:18, Jesus says, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!”
And First Corinthians 15:57 is a message to followers of Jesus: “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The greatest comeback of all time is a reason to believe in God’s good news.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the comeback of Jesus.
Two men were walking along the road to Emmaus wearing somber faces. They had hoped that Jesus would be their redeemer, but after the events of the past few days, their hopes had faded to disappointment. Suddenly, Jesus showed up and started walking and talking with them. After they recognized Jesus later, their spirits were lifted, and they went to tell His disciples, “It is true! The Lord has risen.”
Suppose you were watching a sporting event with a friend who cheered on the same team, and you turned off the TV because your team fell so far behind. Then, imagine finding out the next day that your team scored a stunning come-back victory. You would probably text your friend to share the good news.
Jesus made the greatest comeback of all time when He rose from the dead. It looked bleak on Friday, when Christ was nailed to a cross, and the disciples were scattered and distressed. It looked like the enemies of Christ had prevailed, but Jesus would not stay silent in the tomb. He came back from death, and emerged victorious over death and sin. His triumph renews our hope every day and fills us with so much joy that we want to tell others about the greatest comeback in history.
The comeback of Jesus from the grave is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
