Kilpatrick Baptist Association

The King Has One More Move!

John Prater

Holy Week 2025

 

The object of the game of chess is to checkmate the enemy king to get it into a position where it cannot escape capture. A threat to capture the enemy king places it in "check." The king must then be moved or otherwise protected. If the checked king cannot be moved to a free and safe square, if the attacking piece cannot be captured, or if one of the king's pieces cannot be placed in front of the king as protection, it is checkmated, and the game is lost.

In this famous painting called “Checkmate” by German painter, Moritz Retzsch (1779 – 1857), Dr. Faust is playing a game of chess with Mephistopheles. The legend behind it, is that Faust sought to acquire supernatural knowledge and power by a bargain with Satan. In this pact, signed with his own blood, Faust agreed that Mephistopheles, a devil, was to become his servant for 24 years. In return, Faust would surrender himself to Satan. Mephistopheles entertained his master with luxurious living, long intellectual conversations, and with glimpses of the spirit world. After the agreed 24 years, during an earthquake, Faust was carried off to Hell.

In this painting Mephistopheles looks at Dr. Faust and calls out "checkmate."  All Dr. Faust has is a king, a queen, and a rook. Dr. Faust is ready to give up the game as lost.

According to legend, a chess grandmaster came upon this painting in the Louvre Museum alongside other famous art such as the Mona Lisa. The grandmaster stared a long time at the chess board in the painting and finally noticed something surprising. The typical interpretation of the painting (that the devil had the man in “checkmate”) was incorrect.

According to some accounts, the grand master shouted, “it’s a lie, it’s a lie. The king has one more move!”

Referring to the “spiritual implications” of this painting, Charles Morris (Haven Ministries) says God assures his people that there is always a way of escaping situations that seem hopeless at the time. He goes on to give several examples of “God making a way where there is no way.”

Yet all examples in Scripture and even in our own lives, pale in comparison to the “one more move” that God had after Jesus died on the cross of Calvary.

In the cross of Jesus Christ, Annas, Caiaphas, Herod, Pilate, and the Jewish leaders, said "checkmate."  They thought they had won. Satan thought he had won. Here the Son of God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the only hope for the world and mankind, had died and was placed in a tomb. There he remained for three days and three nights. Satan said "checkmate."  But it is a lie! God said to him "I have one more move!"

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him" (Matthew 28:5-7 ESV).

Easter is not a symbol of Spring, new life, fertility, good winning over evil, etc., Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He has triumphed over sin, death, the grave, and hell. He has paid the price for our redemption! He is alive and sits at the right hand of God the Father. He will return again to receive us to himself.