The Easter Story
Ten. . . Nine. . . Eight. . . The U.S. is going to win. . . The U.S. is going to win. . . Five. . . Four. . . The crowd is on its feet. . . Three. . . It’s unbelievable. . . Two. . . The U.S. Hockey team. . . One. . . Zero. . . Has just defeated the Russians! We did it! We did it!
I heard this exciting finish on my car radio on February 22, 1980 as I drove home. The game was not shown live on television, but we were assured the video tape replay of the game would be shown later that evening. I was looking forward to watching the game, especially since I knew the outcome.
As I watched the replay of the game that evening I wondered whether I had heard the outcome correctly. It seemed, at times, as though the U.S. team was going to lose. The Russian Olympic team looked awesome. They were billed the best in the world. They kept slamming the hockey puck at the U.S. goalie again and again. Could this young U.S. team keep up? I was on the edge of my seat. I kept reminding myself that the game is already over, the score was in, we won. Knowing this, I still sighed when the final seconds ticked off and the replay of the game was over. The news was confirmed. We did win!
Sitting there in the afterglow of the thrilling victory, I CONSIDERED how this, in essence, is the Easter story. We hear an exciting announcer proclaim each year. . . The stone is rolled away. . . He is risen. . . God wins. . . He is victorious! While the game is not over, the outcome has been determined. The Easter Story tells us that God has already emerged victorious because of Calvary.
The play-by-play is now in progress. Sometimes it might appear that God will lose – evil can be so overwhelming – and that His people will be defeated – they seem so powerless – but we have been told how the game will end. No power on earth can stop it from moving to that finish.
The Easter Story is a word of assurance to those still very much in the game. Don’t give up! Don’t be overwhelmed! The outcome of the game has been determined, and if we are faithful, then we will share in the wonderful and thrilling victory.
“They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!’” (Luke 24: 2-6)
Rev. Wendell Mettey
Easter 1980
Revised 3-11-2013
