The Lynden Christian football team was ahead 19-14 and the ball was at midfield. It was the semi-final game in the Class 2-A playoffs in Washington State. There were only seven seconds left in the game. At the coach's orders, the quarterback, Mark Holleman ran toward his own goal line. It would be a two-point safety (scoring for the other team). It wouldn't be enough, however, to win the game, since the clock would have run out. Lynden Christian would be assured the victory and play in the championship game the next week in the Tacoma Dome.

The ball was snapped, Holleman did what he was supposed to do, he ran 51 yards and crossed into his own end zone, effectively eating up the clock. As he crossed the goal line, Holleman, dropped the ball and raised his hands in celebration. The whole team was exuberant...for about two seconds. The opposing team's linebacker Caleb Rose picked up the ball. What appeared to be a harmless safety for the opposing team, turned out to be a touch down! You see, the ball is considered to still be in play until the official's whistle is blown. Holleman let go of the ball too quickly. He should have held onto it a few moments longer. The sure victory turned into an agonizing defeat.

One Friday the skies turned dark. The Hope of the world is nailed to a cross! The Champion of the hurting and sick, the helpless and the weak dies. He is placed in the tomb and what looked to be a sure win for the enemy, became his worst defeat. When Sunday rolled around, Jesus declared victory over Satan, the tomb, his death and ours. He had been rejected by his own people (John 1:11) and the world (1:10). His followers had stopped following (John 6:66) and even his closest friends deserted him and fled (Matthew 26:56). It looked like the end for Jesus. The game was over.

But when the first rays of light beamed over the horizon that resurrection morning, his apparent failure was turned into victory. Peter would later declare, "God has made him both Lord and Christ...this Jesus whom you crucified!" His death was not final and his failure was not fatal!

The resurrection is both our promise and proof that no matter how dismal a failure we may have been in life, that in Christ, there is hope for tomorrow. You and I never have to live with the failures of our past. With Jesus, joy comes in the morning.