The Greatest Comeback

We all enjoy great comeback stories of those who fought back against all odds to overcome and thrive.  I recently read of Keith Thibodeaux who became an overnight sensation as Little Ricky on the TV show, I Love Lucy, and later as Opie’s friend, Johnny Paul, on The Andy Griffith Show. After his youthful acting career ended, he joined a rock band and, in the 1970s, battled depression and drug abuse.  Keith recalled the time during his struggles that his mother invited him to church, where he invited Christ into his life.  Today, Keith and his wife lead a fine arts ministry aimed at sharing the Gospel through ballet.  Such testifies to the transforming power of the Gospel to overcome the greatest of obstacles.

No comeback story, however, rivals our Lord’s resurrection from the dead.  When Jesus said it was finished as He hung on the cross, He gave up His spirit and He died. To many, this may have seemed like a victory. The Evil one thought he had finished Jesus. The Roman soldiers thought they had finished Jesus. The religious elite thought that they had finished Jesus.  This is not at all what Jesus meant when He said, “It is finished.”  When Jesus said these words, He knew that He had fulfilled the scriptures and had been faithful to the end. What was truly finished was the power of sin and death. Jesus’ death and resurrection declared victory for all who trust in Him.

 No matter how dark things may seem, there is always hope. Nothing is over until Jesus says it’s over.  Death does not have the last word and final say. Jesus does.  During this time of the year when we turn our attention to the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are reminded of the absolute victory we have in Him.