An aged attendant of Winchester Cathedral never tired of standing on the Cathedral roof and relating the story of how the news of Wellington's victory over Napoleon reached England.  News of the history-making battle came by a sailing vessel to the south coast, and by semaphore (visual signaling) was wig-wagged overland toward London.  Atop Winchester Cathedral the semaphore began to spell out the eagerly awaited message:

W-e-l-l-i-n-g-t-o-n-D-e-f-e-a-t-e-d-

and then a dense fog settled oppressively over the land!  The semaphore could no longer be seen, and thus the sad, heartbreaking news of the incomplete message went on to London, overwhelming the country in gloom and despair: "Wellington Defeated!"

But, before long, the fog lifted, and again the signaling semaphore atop the Cathedral became visible, spelling out the complete message of the battle:

W-e-l-l-i-n-g-t-o-n-D-e-f-e-a-t-e-d-t-h-e-E-n-e-m-y

Now the message was all the more glorious because of the preceding gloom.  Like the spread of a prairie fire, the joyful news spread across the land, and lifted the spirits of the people onto a plane of gratitude and jubilant praise: "Wellington Defeated the Enemy!" *

Many years ago, on a hill lone and gray, situated outside Jerusalem, the sinless Son of God gave Himself willingly in a vicarious death upon His cruel cross for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2).  As Jesus was dying on the cross, Luke informs us that “about the sixth hour,...there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two” (Luke 23:44-45).  And when Jesus died, the darkness deepened for His fearful followers.  To Jesus’ enemies – including Satan himself – Jesus’ death on the cross meant one thing:

J-E-S-U-S-D-E-F-E-A-T-E-D

As they buried His lifeless body in the borrowed tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, even Jesus’ disciples were troubled by the hopeless message, “Jesus Defeated.”

But three days later, the spiritual darkness was lifted when Jesus rose from the dead!  Then the complete message could be proclaimed that because “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), we can be saved from our sins and receive the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23). 

J-E-S-U-S-D-E-F-E-A-T-E-D-S-I-N-A-N-D-D-E-A-T-H

This is the Gospel, the Good News!

The Good News is that God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection are the basis of the Good News that He conquered sin and death for us.  And, we can share in His victory through our trusting obedience.

Won’t YOU trust and obey Jesus?

-- David A. Sargent

* Slightly adapted from "Because He Lives" by Walter Brown Knight as it appears in www.moresermonillustrations.com.

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

Archived issues of Living Water can be viewed and accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org