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PGA Chaplain Bible Studies Study 36 – November 26th - December 2nd 2007. A Bad Sport!“Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Then the chief Priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. What are we accomplishing? They asked. Here is a man performing many miraculous signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, then the Romans will come and take away our place and nation.” John Chapter 11: verse 45 to 48. (New International Version) Losing in sport is not the end of the world. Being a good sport I think is important. Acknowledging your opponent, particularly when they play well is what sport is about. A bad sport hopes for bad results and even sometimes will go to subtle ways to put their opponent off. It’s one reason why I don’t like sledging in cricket. Hopefully this will not develop in the game of golf. The line between being a good and bad sport is a fine line indeed. One might expect a positive response to Jesus after the long account
in John Chapter 11 of Jesus returning to see Lazarus, finding him dead
and raising him back to life. Some were glad and grateful, particularly
the family and close friends and some believed in Jesus as the Christ,
the Son of God. But our reading today shows a group who were not. Some
of the religious leaders were jealous of Jesus and felt threatened by
his popularity. So much so that they made plans to arrest and put Jesus
to death, thinking it is better to get rid of him than to continue for
him to cause unrest among the people. They were bad sports because they
refused to acknowledge one among them who had more authority, power and
appeal. Jesus was superior to them as God’s Son, but giving up
their position and status was too costly for them. In some ways the death and rising of Lazarus is a preview of what will happen to Jesus in the near future. The jealousy towards Jesus concerning the raising of Lazarus will transfer to a plan to rid themselves of Jesus. In John’s gospel you will notice this is the last of Jesus’ public appearances prior to going to Jerusalem and that most of the rest of the gospel will concern Jesus and his time with the disciples prior to his death. This is a great section to look forward to. Jesus will also go through a process of dying and rising like Lazarus.
Lazarus has risen to die again. Jesus will die and rise but with more
significance. Jesus’ death and rising again is a victory over
the forces of evil and sin. Jesus will rise never to die again. Jesus
won the victory for the world, to offer new life and a new start for
us. Being a bad sport can involve being jealous, having a need for recognition, pride and arrogance. Our world is a better place when excellence is recognised and where sport is played with all our effort, and the winner is acknowledged. Prayer, |
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