There were also women looking on from afar,
among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of
Joseph, and Salome, who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in
Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem. Mark 15:40-41
We are somewhat of a sports family. While I never played anything organized, I’ve
watched a lot growing up with siblings who did.
My husband grew up playing hockey and soccer. Our own kids have mostly played soccer for
the past fifteen years, but have also participated in baseball, basketball, wrestling,
football, track, and cross country. Every
summer, we take in one or two Royals baseball games, and in the fall, we
usually go to at least one MU football game.
We anticipate March madness as if it were a holiday, and the Olympics,
the FIFA World Cup, the Super Bowl, and the World Series, along with weekly
televised games, are typically playing on our living room tv.
Watching our favorite team win is exhilarating. Especially if the games really
matter, like high school district championship soccer games, or the Royals
sweep through their series to get to the World Series this month.
However, watching them lose after such a streak is heart breaking. While reading this passage in Mark, I couldn't help but think about these ladies as they watched their city go from waving palm branches to their "Good Teacher" dying on that wooden cross. The disappointment they must have felt. It wasn't until the following morning that they learned of the victory.
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.
And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
We know who wins. Christ. He defeated the devil. As Christians, we are the champions through Him.
While we shake our heads at the injustice we see and read about each day, and become so discouraged, we shouldn't lose heart, because of our assurance in Christ. Our God reigns...now and forever.
