Michael Burch defines a “comeback” as a return to glory or success against overwhelming odds. His list of candidates for the greatest comeback of all time includes Tiger Woods, who had dominated the PGA for years before encountering personal problems and injuries and falling out of the top 1,000 in the world golf rankings making him think he may never play again. But in 2019, despite not having won a Major title in eleven years, he won the Masters.
We could add to that list George Washington, leading the Continental Army that was on the brink of disaster at Valley Forge where around 2,000 men died. Facing a military superpower, he was struggling with a disastrous supply crisis while also trying to retrain and reorganize his men before mounting a successful counterattack at Trenton. There are many great comebacks in history, but without question the greatest comeback was accomplished by the man Burch calls “an obscure Palestinian Jew named Jesus.”
A man took a vacation to Israel with his wife and mother-in-law, who he didn’t get along with very well. During their time in the Holy Land, his mother-in-law unexpectedly passed away. The following day, the husband met with the local undertaker to discuss funeral plans.
“In cases like these, there are a couple of options to choose from,” the undertaker explained. “You can ship the body home for $5,000, or you can bury her in the Holy Land for just $150.” The man took a minute to think about it, and then announced his decision to ship her home.
The undertaker, intrigued by his decision, said, “That’s an interesting choice. Can I ask why would you pay $5,000 to ship your mother-in-law home, when you can easily bury her here for $150?” The man promptly replied, “About 2,000 years ago, a man died and was buried here. Three days later he rose from the dead- and I can’t take that chance!”
Jesus’ comeback was something He had clearly predicted at least three times, like in Matthew 16:21 where we read, “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” After His resurrection, on the Day of Pentecost, His apostles boldly preached that Jesus had, in fact, died, “But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death… God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.” (Acts 2:24,32) Jesus’ victory over death had impacted them in a profound way. It should be the same for us. Because He conquered the grave, we also can experience great comebacks, certainly at our resurrection, but also here in this life.
One more comeback story: During his lifetime, Abraham Lincoln had two businesses that failed, the love of his life died, he had two nervous breakdowns, he lost one son at age four and another at age eleven and he lost eight elections. But despite so many setbacks, in 1860 at the age of 51 he was elected President of the United States. Lincoln, like Jesus Christ, reminds us that we may be down, but that doesn’t mean we’re out. Your comeback may be just around the corner.
Happy Easter, Jim
Scripture Spotlight “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.” Acts 2:32