Last Quarter

 

In the late ‘80’s, I coached basketball.  I ran the boys hard, and we practiced for the 4^th quarter.  I told them it didn’t matter what the score was at the end of the 1^st quarter, it didn’t matter what the score was at halftime, and it didn’t matter what the score was at the end of the 3^rd quarter.  But it did matter what the score was at the end of the game.  We did our best to keep from falling behind too much during the first 3 quarters, and then we did our best to catch up at the end.  And we were ready for that last quarter.  On that fateful Friday some 2,000 years ago, Jesus looked defeated.  Jesus was battered and mocked like a loser.  He died and was buried in a borrowed tomb.  But 3 days later, on Easter Sunday morning, Jesus came out of that tomb as the triumphant Savior of the world.  Strong Roman soldiers fell like dead men before His power.  The resurrection of Jesus was His 4^th quarter; it was His finest hour.  And make no mistake, Jesus is coming back again In power and great glory!  Paul said in Philippians 2:10&11, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  I am excited to think of coming back with Jesus and being par6 of His retinue!  What a day that will be!