John Ortberg wrote in his book, It All Goes Back Into the Box, the story of two men in a museum who saw a painting of a chess game.
One character in the painting looked like a man and the other looked very much like the devil. The man was down to his last piece. The title of the painting was “Checkmate.” One of the two men looking at the painting was an international chess champion. Something about the painting intrigued him. He began to study it. He grew so engrossed that the man with him got a little impatient and asked what he was doing. The chess champion said, “Something about this painting bothers me. I want to study it for a while and you go ahead and wander around.”
When the friend came back, the chess master said, “We must locate the man who painted this picture. We must tell him he must either change the picture or change the title. I have determined there is something wrong with it. His friend asked, “What’s wrong with the painting?” The man replied,“ It is titled Checkmate, but the title is wrong. The game is not over.” Then pointing to one of the pieces on the chessboard he said “The king still has one more move.”
That is the Easter message. The King still has one more move.
When you think it is over, done, finished, that you can’t go on,
That the obstacles are too big, the grief is too intense, the failure too final, the disappointment too deep, the hurt too horrible, the debt too large,
When you are ready to throw in the towel, disappear into despair, wallow in self-pity, or live in sadness,
Easter says, “The King still has one more move.” Remember, the tomb is empty.
In John 20:19-31 (the Gospel of this Sunday), the Disciples were locked in a room and the Gospel writer tells us they were filled with fear. They believed that death had “checkmated” them and that it was over! Jesus came into their midst and offered them “Peace” and showed them His hands and side. Then “sent them” forward!
He told them it was not over - they still could “play on”, they could still move forward, they could still continue.
We are an Easter people - a people of Hope, a people of renewal, a people of baptismal life!
God always has the last word, the final move, and to those who belong to Jesus Christ, it is a good move. O, but we are also a “Thomas people” are we not! “ I will not believe”.....”unless I see, unless I touch, I will not believe”
But our Saviour - our King - is totally amazing, totally loving
That’s the message of His Divine Mercy: Here is what Pope Francis reminds us about Gods Mercy:
God's face is the face of a merciful father who is always patient. Have you thought about God's patience, the patience He has with each one of us? That is His mercy. He always has patience, patience with us, He understands us, He waits for us, He does not tire of forgiving us if we are able to return to Him with a contrite heart. - Pope Francis, 17 March 2013 -
Remember from Easter Sunday - One thing about Jesus is that He was anything but routine and ordinary, no where in scripture does it say that Jesus did the ordinary routine thing - nor that people were bored around Him.
They might have been puzzled at what He said, confused about what He did, angry at His response - but never did they think He was ordinary or routine.
Jesus taught like no one ever taught, lived like no one ever lived, loved like no one ever loved.
Jesus met Thomas where he was at - even the point of doubt - and said - let me know you the move! “Touch, doubt no longer but believe” (c.f. John 20:19-31)
To believe in Easter is to know that God will not let His purpose for your life wind up in tragedy.
Neither will He allow you to live in despair and hopelessness. The King has one more move.
He has a future for you, and Easter says your future will be more glorious that your past.
Someone once wrote, “The nicest place to be is in someone’s thoughts. The safest place to be is in someone’s prayers, and the best place to be is in God’s hands.”
I think there is a lot of wisdom there!
Let’s place ourselves this Easter Season in God’s hands - wounded by the cross, marked by the nails but belonging to a God who is willing to show them to us and very open to where we are at to give us hope
This Easter, remember, the King has one more move.