The "March Madness" of the Easter Story

I have always been drawn to the underdog stories. I just love seeing the underdog get his (or her) day. It's one of the reasons that my favorite movie has always been "Rudy", the story of the 20-something factory worker who chases, and finally catches, his dream of playing football for the vaunted University of Notre Dame football team. 

It's also the reason March is perhaps my favorite month of the year as a sports fan.  

This is the month of "March Madness" - the NCAA basketball tournament, the tournament well-known for giving the underdogs their day "on the court." The beauty of this is that it's not just the underdog stories that win during the tournament, but the teams that make it in that were not even supposed to be there in the first place. 

Every year has it's David versus Goliath story, and far from being different, this year seems to have more of those stories than usual. One of the lowest seeds in the tournament beats the best team in the country. A low-seeded small conference team makes it to the final weekend – the Final Four. And along the way, powerhouse after powerhouse has been knocked off, each felled by their own "David". 

For us as Christians, it ought to be a beautiful reminder that the God we serve is the God of the underdog. Throughout history, he has chosen the smallest, the weakest, the "simplest" people – the ones the world would not give the time of day – to shake and reshape the world, and to win battles big and small. 

From Joseph, to Gideon, to David, to a small band of fishermen and a tax collector, it's the underestimated underdog God always chooses to do His greatest works.  

Paul writes, in fact: 

" For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach[b] to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." 1 Corinthains 1:21-25 ESV 

This should be great hope for anyone who feels insignificant or inadequate in the eyes of the world. Your hopes, your dreams and passions, are not in vain. No matter how small you think you are, God can use your story – and your gifts – to impact mightily the world around you. 

All you have to do is put everything you have in His hands, and trust Him daily to do the work that He wants to do. 

Which brings me to the second reason I love March Madness so much. 

It is an amazing reminder that every single day, we always have to be ready for battle. 

The thing about the NCAA Basketball tournament, and the reason it is so fascinating, is that there is no second chance to get it right. It's one-and-done. If you do not bring your "A-Game" for even one game, you can be out a lot sooner than expected. 

You might think this idea is inconsistent with our faith in Christ.  

And yes, it is true, that the grace of Jesus Christ gives us far more chances than any of us deserve. It is what makes His grace so amazing, and the reason the underdogs have hope. 

But it serves as a reminder to those who have come to faith that we must be prepared for battle each and every day. Our Enemy does not take days off, so neither should we in our preparation for a life of faith. 

Scripture admonishes us to put on the armor of faith daily. Paul constantly reminds the first-century churches to vital nature of training for battle, training to run the race of faith. We have to be ready because, as Peter reminds us: "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8 ESV 

He is a shrewd adversary, knowing and attacking our weaknesses, the holes in our defense, so to speak. The devil aims to attack the areas where we are least prepared to fight, to "play the game." If we are not properly prepared, the consequences can be devastating to our lives and to our hearts when the battle overwhelms us. 

But the good news is this. The training God gives us through His word, and the armor of faith He gives us to protect and defend our hearts and minds from any attack the enemy can throw our way. 

And the most important knowledge we carry is this. 

No matter what attack we face, the game has already been won for us. 

As we approach Easter, we remember Jesus Christ – the sinless Lamb of God – was bruised and broken, bled and died on a cross for our sins. He laid in a borrowed tomb, and on the third day, defeated death once and for all when He walked out of that tomb alive. 

He nailed our sin – the weakest parts of our flesh - to the cross as he bled and died, and defeated death itself on the third day. Each day we arm our hearts with this knowledge and carry it with us, Paul writes in Romans 8 there is nothing that comes against us strong enough to overcome it. 

So, this weekend, as many will watch college basketball crown its champion, we have an even greater opportunity. We have the opportunity to hold on to, and to worship, the Ultimate Champion – Jesus Christ – who overcame sin and death and won the greatest victory ever witnessed. 

The God who gives the underdogs victory has already sealed the title with the blood of His son. And when we truly grasp that, we have already won, too. 

It is the greatest March reminder of all.