麻豆社

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What an absolutely astonishing comeback it was by Barcelona this week who produced the football story of the season so far as they overturned a 4-0 deficit in their Champions League game against Paris St Germain in an action-packed, thrilling match. Religious terms were amongst those adopted by headline writers who wrote of miracles, belief, the impossible becoming possible and how Paris鈥� potential glory turned to dust.

Any kind of comeback is characterised by a combination of events being turned on their head and expectancy transformed. Surely, that can鈥檛 happen 鈥� and then it does?

There are still several biblical characters who people can name in pub quizzes: Daniel in the Lion鈥檚 Den, David, facing the might of Goliath 鈥� and then the king of all comebacks 鈥� Lazarus 鈥� who, we鈥檙e told, Jesus raised from the dead.

That saying the greatest comeback since Lazarus refers directly to dramatic events which transpired after Jesus arrived too late in Bethany to heal him. And so Jesus stands outside of the tomb, with crowds and Lazarus鈥� two distraught sisters in tow and shouts to the dead man 鈥� 鈥渃ome out!鈥�

Now by New Testament standards, this is a hugely detailed story which provokes a sense of amazement of the reader. It is also critically important to the essence of what the Christian faith stands for: that nothing is impossible and that even death need not be the end.

Let鈥檚 be absolutely honest here. We spend much of our time ruling out the possibility of a comeback for ourselves or anyone else for that matter. We make our decisions, form impressions about ideas, people, places, politics and philosophies without leaving even the slightest capacity to be surprised, shocked even. Did that comeback which seem impossible actually happen鈥� before my eyes?

At the very moment when Lazarus emerges from the tomb, still wearing his burial clothes and bandages, the different responses of those who witnessed it is are worth noting: some were still having none of it and headed straight for the religious authorities to report Jesus. Others, spontaneously rejoiced and believed what their eyes were telling them.

It was the same for those in the stadium and the millions watching the Barcelona match on TV: when new life is breathed into a situation which previously looked beyond redemption, the world is turned upside down and you can鈥檛 help but respond to it somehow?

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