Resurrection

I love the Detroit Lions.  You might know that about me, but I needed to clarify.  I love the Detroit Lions.

The last two weeks they have been down 20+ points during their games and have fought back to win.  Down, out, beaten, and perhaps dead?  Two weeks ago, statistically they had a 2% chance of winning their game when they were down 20 at the half to the Vikings.  Yesterday, they had a 1% chance of winning after getting down 24 points to the Cowboys.*

In our terms, they were dead to rights.  Down, out, beaten AND dead.

But someone forgot to tell the Lions.

They won both games.  Surprise.  It's not the same, old Lions, right?  Down, out, beaten, dead, and back alive?

As a fan, I kinda lose hope in the one I love.  I see the death.  I see my hopes dashed, my dreams shattered, and my faith shaken.  And all for a football team.

But they won.  And it kinda makes me want to smile.**

The Lions remind me of Jesus, and we don't even have Tim Tebow....

Read the Bible, specifically John or Mark.  Jesus had some followers, some fans, if you will.  They loved him and lived with him.  They were friends and brothers.  And then Jesus died.  Cue the dashing of hopes, shattering of dreams, and shaking of faith.  All for a friend and leader.  Jesus was down, out, beaten, and dead.

Skip to the end of John or Mark.  Seriously, I give you permission to read the end first.  Jesus isn't dead.  He came back to LIFE.  He had a 0% chance of living again.  0%.  No one dies like he did and comes back to life, even in modern medicine.  Dead.  Now alive.

It kinda makes me want to smile.**



*I read the stats on the NFC North blog, written by Kevin Seifert.
**That was an intentional understatement.