Scripture reading: Matthew 28:1–10

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever

And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them,

triumphing over them by the cross. (Colossians 2:15)

 

In 1815, after the great and decisive battle between the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon Bonaparte at a small Belgian village named Water- loo, all England anxiously awaited the news. Who won? Who lost? What was the outcome? No one was indifferent. Everyone was anxious as they waited to hear the news.

Communication across the English Channel in those days was done by a series of ships spelling out messages in semaphore through the use of flags. As news from the battlefield reached the Channel, the ships began to relay the message from Europe to waiting England. Letter by letter the message was transferred from ship to ship across the foggy waters:

W-E-L-L-I-N-G-T-O-N   D-E-F-E-A-T-E-D

Then fog made transmission difficult, and the message appeared to be complete. Those decoding the words were plunged into gloom and despair. It seemed that the English forces had been defeated. All was lost. But then the fog began to life and the relay team realized there was more to the message. Holding their breath they watched as the letters came through one by one.

W-E-L-L-I-N-G-T-O-N  D-E-F-E-A-T-E-D  N-A-P-O-L-E-O-N

Instantly, sadness was transformed into jubilation! What appeared to be defeat was in reality one of the greatest moments of victory in the history of British warfare!

On Friday of Holy Week everything appeared appeared dark and gloomy. Through the fog of fear and pain the disciples began to discern a message coming through. It was hard to read at first, but the letters began to explain what had happened at the Battle of Calvary.

J-E-S-U-S D-E-F-E-A-T-E-D

 

Their worst fears came in like a flood. The devil had won. They had hoped that Jesus was the Messiah, the King, the Savior of the world. Alas! He’s now dead and the powers of darkness have triumphed. All is lost. But wait! On Easter morning the fog began to lift. There’s more to the message than we first imagined. Look!

J-E-S-U-S D-E-F-E-A-T-E-D S-A-T-A-N, S-I-N, D-E-A-T-H, A-N-D H-E-L-L

On a clear day you can see forever. Jesus is risen!

 

Despair is a sin exceedingly vile and contemptible. . . it declares the devil a conqueror,

and what great dishonor can be done to Christ than for a soul to proclaim

before all the world the devil a crowned conqueror?—Thomas Brooks

 

point to ponder • When Satan does his worst, then and only then, is God able to do his best.

prayer focus • A situation that seems hopeless.