A Champion of [greater than] Olympic Proportions

I love watching the Olympic games. I'm not sure why I start to care so much about sports and players I have never before followed (except perhaps four years ago). But suddenly, I must return to the TV screen to watch the finals in badminton, trampoline, rowing, lawn darts (OK, not lawn darts...maybe in 2012). And for me at least, one of the most intriguing parts of the Olympic coverage is the athlete bios. I love the intriguing stories of obstacles overcome, grueling training regimens, and victories won in spite of overwhelming odds.

As I mentioned in service this morning, Jesus has won a victory even greater than an Olympic champion (even an 8-time champion). We all know that he died on a cross and rose to life again, but perhaps we aren't familiar with thinking of Christ as a "Champion."

1 Corinthians 15:55-57 tells declares, "'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Jesus Christ won the victory over death by dying and rising to life again. This is different than when he raised others to life while he was alive (for example, Lazarus or the daughter of Jairus). These people died, were raised to life again, but then they died a natural death some time later. When Jesus rose from the dead, he rose to eternal life, never to die again. This fact confirms our belief that we, too, will join Jesus in heaven and live there eternally, if we are his people. That's why Paul says that "Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." (1 Cor. 15.20)

Jesus' victory over death is, without a doubt, an even greater triumph than beating 7 competitors across a pool, or sticking the landing on a triple flip with a double twist.

So let's enjoy the great stories from the Olympics, but let's let them remind us of the greater Victor, the Champion of Champions, the one who has won the greatest race of all. And he calls us to join in the race, and finish as champions ourselves, with his help.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." (1 Corinthians 9:24)