The Mets, Bill Buckner, and Easter Joy

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Do you know what it is like to be surprised with good news? 

Growing up I was an ardent Mets fan. During my childhood during the late 70’s and early 80’s, the Mets were the worst team in baseball. That all changed in 1986, when they made it to the World Series. However, they were down 3 games to 2 to the Red Sox in the best-of-7 series. In game 6, losing 5 – 3 with two outs and nobody on base in the bottom of the 9th inning, I was devastated. We had come so close! I couldn’t bear to watch the final out. I turned off the TV and despairingly went upstairs to bed.

Imagine my surprise and joy the next morning when my mother burst into my room exclaiming, “THE METS WON THE GAME! THE METS WON THE GAME!” I raced downstairs to the TV to confirm the news. It was true! Bill Buckner had saved the day for the Mets! My despair turned to joy! I think it was my dad who said, with that twinkle in his eye, “O ye of little faith!”  Ouch!

Can you envision the surprise and joy the women felt that first Easter morning when the angels proclaimed to them, “He is not here. He has risen, just as He said!” (I wonder if the angels had the same twinkle in their eyes that my dad had as they said, “just as He said.”) Three days earlier, the One in whom they had pinned all their hopes and dreams was brutally beaten and murdered, nailed to a cross. They went to His tomb that Easter morning expecting to find a dead Jesus. Instead, they found an empty tomb!

We just celebrated Easter, the historical fact that Jesus bodily rose from the dead and is alive forever, reigning as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He can not only forgive us by paying for our sin on the cross, but because He is alive, He can be known today and forever by all those who put their trust in Him. In receiving Christ may we know and worship Him who died, rose again, and is here with us by His Holy Spirit.  For truly, JESUS WON THE GAME for us. 

Alleluia! Alleluia! The Lord is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Alleluia!