Tony Campolo tells a story about the movie, The Seventh Seal.

In short, a medieval knight plays a dramatic game of chess with death himself, the prince of darkness. Throughout the whole movie they go back and forth making moves.

Right at the end, as things are reaching a climax, the prince of darkness makes one more move and says, “Checkmate.” The curtain comes down and the movie ends.

Apparently, Bobby Fischer was in the audience, a world chess champion. When it was over he leaned over to his friend and said: “Why is he giving up? The king has one more move! The king has one magnificent move than can turn the tide and win the game.”*

He knew chess better than the movie writers, producers, and even the prince of darkness himself!

Campolo points out that this is central to the message of Easter. The King had one more move! 

In fact, this happens not only at the resurrection, but through the whole Gospel story.

The leper in Mark 1:40 was out of options. To him the prince of darkness whispered, “Checkmate.” But not so fast: Jesus showed up and healed him. 

The King had one more move.

The same is true for the paralyzed man in Mark 2:3 and the tax collector Mark 2:14. Both were out of options.  To them the prince of darkness whispered, “Checkmate.” But not so fast: Jesus showed up and provided healing. 

The King had one more move.

Oh, there’s also the disciples in a perilous storm in Mark 4:37, the man with a legion of demons in Mark 5:2, and the bleeding woman in Mark 5:25. To them the prince of darkness whispered, “Checkmate.” But not so fast! Jesus showed up provided safety, liberation and a cure.

The King had one more move.

In Hebrews 13:8 we learn that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Not only did the King “have” one more move, but he “has” one more move. And another move after that, and then one after that. 

When the world whispers to you, “Checkmate,” our King says: “Not so fast. I have one more move.” Never rule out a God who kicks open tombs.

Notes and extra content:

-“The King has one more move.” Sermon. April 20, 2025. Click here.

-*Tony Campolo, Stories That Feed Your Soul (California: Regal Light, 2010), 118.

-Bible quotes are from the NIV.