Jesus is Worthy of More Glory.
Good Morning Friends,
Last night the closing ceremonies for the Sochi Winter Olympics were held. They were designed to help the world better understand the soul of Russia. Clowns, dancers, Russian artists and writers were honored. There was a sadness about it. The dancers formed the Olympic rings with the opening ceremonies flaw on the visually and technologically stunning floor of the arena. They made what was a flaw a feature as they finally formed the last ring. People will remember it in a new way. Marc Chagall, the modern artist, was given special recognition. Although not shown, his “White Crucifixion” came to mind, in part because it has been making the news because it is Pope Francis favorite work of art. But I think of it also because one of the candles is out. I show it below but will leave its interpretation to you. Interestingly, today’s passage to the Church at Corinth was written with the backdrop of Christ on the cross but also Jesus’ Kingship even over the Olympic games of 2000 years ago. Paul compares these ancient games to our role as Christians in competing to win souls for Christ. He makes clear the need for self-discipline and the reality that we must be willing to win not just participate. Then Paul compares the prize awarded to the winner at the end of the games to the prize we receive as Christians. Instead of a wild celery wreath given to the winners, Christians receive something that lasts… a gold crown that honors spiritual endurance but with the recognition that Jesus is Worthy of More Glory.
Scripture: Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable garland, but we an imperishable one.
1 Corinthians 9:25 (NRSV)
Yet Jesus is worthy of more glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.
Hebrews 3:3 (NRSV)
Are you the king of the Jews? Asked Pilate. “You have said so, “Jesus replied.
Mark 15:2 (NIV)
The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe
John 18:2 (NIV)
Message: There’s a bigness to the Olympiad that captivates us. There is of course an inner conflict that intensifies for each of us who seek to honor God as well. We are still in competition. The Olympics brings this out for all to see. However for the Christian, the nature of winning has hopefully changed from being physical to those things spiritual. In some ways the Sochi Winter Olympics were the biggest. Certainly more money was spent on them than any other games. On display were the world’s best athletes, and most impressive humans, from most of the globe’s geopolitical nations. It is the role of the Christian to search for its spirit. Interestingly Iceland has never won a Winter Olympic medal and the Netherlands this year won the most per capita and Russia the most overall. The United States became the King of Bronze. The point is that this sense of humanity’s oneness stemming from the games is strained. Christians know there is something infinitely greater, someone infinitely greater. Hopefully the grandeur of the Games points us to an even greater grandeur as it did for me. Here we can taste of transcendence that helps us see there is something even greater that births everlasting enjoyment worthy of bringing together with people from every tribe and tongue and nation. Friends, as big as the Olympics feel, as momentous as the gold-medal may seem at the time, it is all small compared to God. See the smallness of the arena compared to the city of Sochi, then dwarfed by all of Russia, and only a speck compared to the globe. Then consider the smallness of our little planet— infinitely tiny — against the massiveness of the universe and its billions and billions of stars. Then consider that this God of the universe loves you. At the very least we should respect God until we can learn to love in return.
Pray we see the Olympic Games in a new light through the lens of a Christian faith. Pray the light of Jesus in our lives be brighter than an Olympic torch…than the stars of the sky. Pray we discipline or bodies and moral character. Pray we discipline our speech. Pray we discipline our priorities. Pray we never give up. Pray that we encourage others. Pray that when it comes to being Christians we are spiritual winners. Pray when it comes to glory we give it to Christ for in Jesus we were created. Pray we give respect until we learn to love.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 