Checkmate!

A group of people are lead by a tour guide through a Russian art museum. One man in the group, a professional chess player, takes a special interest in a painting called Checkmate in the art gallery. In the painting, a man is playing chess with the devil. The devil is grinning ear-to-ear because he has the man cornered. The title of the painting, “Checkmate,” indicates that the game is over. The devil has won. His opponent has no more moves. The chess player analyzes the painting for a long time, and the group moves on without him. Then suddenly he steps back, flabbergasted. “It’s wrong!” he exclaims. “There’s one more move.” He runs to his group and together they look at the painting. “We have to contact the painter,” the chess champion says. “It’s not checkmate. The King has one more move which will let him win!”

When Jesus was put to death on the cross it seemed to his friends and disciples that another good and miraculous man had come and died just like all other men. It also probably seemed that the one man who could save humanity had been killed. It seemed like the Devil had won and defeated Jesus Christ and put him under death's cold power. But when Jesus rose a few days later he showed to the whole entire world that absolutely nothing could hold him! He had that last move, the move which with he conquered death and hell. The greatest crime of man had just been turned into the greatest victory of God!