Triumph and the Cross

History's Greatest Comeback

Everyone loves the story of a great comeback, when against all odds the underdogs snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat. Such was the case with the 1993 Buffalo Bills. Warren Moon and the Houston Oilers had the NFL Playoffs in hand with a 35-3 lead over the Bills in the third quarter. With their offense decimated by injuries the Bills had virtually no chance to overcome such a deficit. That is, until Frank Reich began a flurry of amazing plays. Five unanswered Reich touchdowns put the Bills up, but the Oilers tied it up with a field goal. Then in overtime, Nate Odomes picked off Warren Moon (one of the game's greatest quarterbacks) to set up the most improbable of victories and what is considered the greatest NFL comeback in history. Final score: 41-38 for the Bills.

But sports comebacks pale in comparison to history's greatest comeback by far - the "comeback of the cross." By all accounts Jesus Christ was down for the count. He was in fact, not just down, but out - having been dealt the death blow of crucifixion. No one had ever comeback from that. The game looked to be over. The cruel, taunting spectators had gone home, and only a few of Jesus' most loyal admirers had hung around for the post-game which was really more like a post-mortem. But the scene at the tomb on Sunday morning quickly turned into an unbelievable victory celebration when it became evident that Almighty God had pulled off the greatest comeback of all time. The apostle Paul put it this way: "Having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" (Colossians 2:14).

Notice that Paul does not say "triumphing over them in spite of the cross," but rather "triumphing by the cross." This is part of the wonderful mystery of the cross - that it was all part of the pre-determined game plan or strategy of God to take the instrument of cruel condemnation and make it the instrument of life-giving salvation.

The message of the cross continues to be one that miraculously snatches victory out of defeat. One of our international staff, E., wrote recently: "Matt" called me, and asked me if he could come over, and when he arrived, he had a large bandage covering one of his cheeks. When I asked him what had happened, he told me that it was a 'gift from his family.' His family has kicked him out of his house. He said that they had seen him, and grabbed him, and cut his cheek open with a knife, telling him that they were going to give him a scar, because he was shaming the family. He told me that when he went to the police afterward, and explained the situation, the policeman kicked him, and told him that if Matt was his son, he'd have killed him.

Matt has been a follower of Jesus for just over a year, and he has had a terrible life. He feels like he is the only believer in this city, which isn't true...but right now he might as well be, since there is no way to get him into touch with others who are. I will be meeting with him more regularly.

Here's what E. wrote a few days later: Thank you for lifting up Matt. I had the opportunity to meet with him on Friday of this last week, and we read together, and sang together, and lifted one another up. It was really fun, and I look forward to plenty more of it.

Sounds to me like "triumph". In fact it makes me think of what Jesus said in Luke 6:22-23 - "Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you...for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold your reward is great in heaven." There are not many times in life when we leap for joy. One is at sporting events. According to Jesus, another is when persecuted. If Matt is learning to sing in the midst of persecution, it is a sign that he is experiencing the triumph of the cross.