PPic: Oberon Golf Course - Links Pro Am 2006

PGA Chaplain Bible Studies

Study 38–December 10th to 16th 2007.
Reading – John Chapter Ch12: verses 12 to 19..

Jesus - Champion of Champions!

“The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” Blessed be the King of Israel!” John Chapter 12: verses 12 to 13. (New International Version)

What is it that makes a champion in sport?
I think there are at least 4 components.

1. You need natural ability. Without it you can be good at sport but not great. Greg Norman had heaps of natural ability.
   
   
2. You need to practise, train and be fit. Many have had natural ability, but have been unwilling to practise or train or work hard enough. They tire towards the end. Eg Tiger Woods is as fit a person as you will see.
   
   
3. You need to be able to persevere, overcome obstacles or poor form. No ones life is ever smooth all the time. Champions have a habit of sticking it out and coming through the other side. Eg Bernhard Langer with the yips.
   
   
4. You need results. For many reasons some unknown and others known, champions have a habit of winning, even when they are unlikely to. They are the one’s who hold the trophy high. Eg Peter Senior won many titles and had the ability to win when he was in a position to.

I am sure there is a lot more to making a champion, but for me these 4 components stand out. We have all been a part of cheering on our champions on the sideline in sport. Different people are champions in various parts of life whether sport, politics, music, or whatever. But they all fall short of being a champion of life, of overcoming the very thing that robs us of life; that is death. They have all bowed to its power.

I consider Jesus Christ to be the champion of champions.

In our reading today the crowds hailed Jesus as a champion, as a King, as one who came in the name of the Lord God as he rode into Jerusalem on a colt. He rode on something a little different to what we would expect, (on a young donkey), but this showed the kind of champion he is.
Jesus is the champion of life, because he came and exercised authority over life, over creation, over evil forces and eventually death. Jesus did not value being seen in a good light from a worldly point of view by the amount of his possessions or the size of his army or his transport, but by what he had to give, his life.

What makes Jesus unique is that he has conquered life. Born of a virgin(1), he lived a life without sin, he showed how life should be lived and then to top it off (2), died for the sins of the world (3). And then because death could not hold him he rose again to live forever and to give life to all who believe in him (4). If you trace the 4 points above of a champion you can see them echoed in Jesus’ life. Jesus didn’t avoid the mess of the world and our life; he came to help us through it. I know of no other champion with all the credentials and achievements of Jesus. That is why Jesus is the champion of champions or as the bible says; King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

A champion is someone you admire, applaud, speak about and seek to emulate. If you look to anyone else, you will be disappointed, especially on the day when we will stand before Jesus who we owe our life to.

Prayer.  Our Father God, thank you that we all can be winners in life by accepting Jesus as our champion and the one who rescues us from sin and death and gives new life.

Amen.

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