Last Sunday Doug Metzger (Minister of Single Adults at Immanuel) mentioned that Sports Illustrated ran an article listing Jesus Christ as number 1 in their list of top 10 biggest comebacks of all time.
“Jesus Christ, 33 A.D. Defies critics and stuns the Romans with his resurrection.”
Sports Illustrated, Bouncing Back Big-Time, November 12, 2001
Here’s the article:
The article is Bouncing Back Big-Time (link removed since Sports Illustrated removed it). Here’s the issue with the article at Amazon.
While the article might be interesting, it’s not a comeback in a sense because Jesus was never “behind”. His death was part of God’s plan since before the world was created. God sent his Son for the purpose of saving the world and giving His life was part of the plan from the beginning. As Paul says:
Men of Israel, hear these words:
Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
Acts 2:22-24
Paul expounds on this later in 1 Corinthians. Because of the resurrection, death holds no power over those who repent and believe in Christ.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?
1 Corinthians 15:55