Dear Faith Family, 

Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting.  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). 

Many moons ago in a land far, far away (Ok.  It was Blythewood).  We were the underdogs.  It was tournament time.  Softball that is.  We were in the championship – the game for all the marbles!  Derek Jeter played for the opposing team.  Well, not really.  But their shortstop guy was all that.  And he was like the vice president of the softball league.  We were just a hodgepodge (a confused mixture of different things according to the Cambridge dictionary – sounds about right) of church boys from Ridgeway.   

Someone offered Derek Jeter (not the real one) the customary “good luck” before the game.  His response?  “We won’t need it.”  (You see where this is going, right?)  That night we assembled before a live audience and probably a worldwide television audience (you probably remember it!).  When the dust settled the hodgepodge boys walked away with a “W”!  League champions!  Got a call from the Atlanta Braves home office!  (Ok.  Maybe not.) 

But here’s the icing on the cake.  Derek Jeter (no, not the real one – the one who didn’t need any good luck) had the distinct honor of presenting the championship trophy to the underdogs! 

So, what’s the point?  The seemingly sure bet, death, is the overwhelming favorite on the playing field of sin and death.  And then came Jesus.  Right?!  Jesus took on our sin.  He defeated our sin.  He paid the price for our sin.  He tackled the penalty for our sin, death.  And he defeated our arch enemy, namely death.  Jesus rose victoriously from the grave! 

Now watch this.  Death used to have a sting.  It used to be a victor.  Not only has its stinger been “destung”, its thrill of victory has become its agony of defeat.  But not for us!  Think about it.  It gets even better.  Death actually serves up our trophy.  We get Jesus!  Forever! 

Eternally thankful, 
Pastor Karl