A movie currently playing in theaters is called Miracle. It is the story of the 1980 USA Olympic hockey team and their improbable victory. Although we can always count on our athletes to win a lot of gold medals at the Summer Olympics, the USA did not fare as well in the Winter Games. And hockey had to be at the bottom of the list of sports we could expect to win. Yet somehow a group of amateur Americans took on the world’s best, including the seemingly invincible Russians, and came away with the gold. I’m sure most of us who were around in 1980 can remember this event even if we weren’t hockey fans. We remember sportscaster Al Michaels’ impassioned cry as the clock ticked to zero on the team’s gold medal winning game, "Do you believe in miracles?!" That tremendous victory still causes us to well up with national pride and celebrate, even 24 years later.

This month we celebrate again another incredible victory. Centuries ago it seemed all was lost when a great teacher was executed and his lifeless body was imprisoned behind a massive stone. But then the most improbable of things happened. He arose from the dead on that first Easter morning. Do you believe in miracles?! This central event in all of human history still sparks our celebration, even 2,000 years later. More than just making us proud of our national heritage, it is the event that defines us and brings us into the kingdom of God. It is because of the resurrection of Christ that we are formed into His body, the church.

So let us gather as His church and celebrate His victory over sin and death on our behalf. Let us remember the great sacrifice He made for us. Let us press on in obedience to His command to share this good news with all those around us. Let us never forget that we are His representatives to replay the miracle for all to see.