Last week I went to an aged care home. No not as a resident (hopefully still a few years away yet) but as part of a Grove Baptist Church music group led by the indomitable Phil and Jenny Luke. Jenny played and Phil sang as the elderly residents were transported back to their younger/brighter days; singing along and thoroughly enjoying themselves.
At the end as we were packing up, a relatively younger guy appeared to call me over. It was hard to tell as his arms, head and shoulders were constantly moving. I wasn't even sure he was coherent such was his exaggerated movements. Despite my trepidation, I went over and had a wonderful conversation. He spoke well and even spoke my language – sport (particularly rugby league and rugby union).
At one point he leaned over arms flailing and head rolling, and told me he was at Ellis Park in South Africa a week before Nelson Mandela and the Springboks won the 1995 World Cup. It was he said, the greatest moment in the history of sport.
Wow I said, not sure what to say next. But when I thought about it – I had to agree with him. South Africa was on a knife's edge. The cruel and oppressive apartheid regime had just ended. But the wounds and scars of that regime were vast, vivid and inflamed. Yet one man who had been unjustly imprisoned for 27 years, used a rugby tournament to settle it all down. By donning a Springbok jersey Nelson Mandela adopted white society and showed that they could all live as one nation.
It was an incredible victory for forgiveness and trust that transformed a nation. And the fact that the Springboks beat the All Blacks (who were favourites - aren't they always) was even sweeter. You can check out the full story in the movie Invictus.
What about other great sporting moments. In Australian sport, there was Cathy Freeman carrying the expectation of a whole nation to win Gold in the 400 metres at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Or Queensland's win over NSW in the first ever State of Origin in 1980. It showed and has always shown, spirit wins over talent every time.
Or Australia beating the unbeatable USA in the Americas Cup. To beat the Americans at anything is great but to beat them in their own backyard, making up their own rules and ending the longest winning streak in history was a truly great moment.
These special sporting moments got me thinking about what has been the greatest moment in history – not just sport. So many great things have happened to the human race. We have come so far in terms of understanding and treating illnesses and disease; of farming and producing food and clothing etc; of connecting people and research with the Internet; of technological advances all the way to the moon and back.
Yet for me the greatest moment in history happened over 2,000 years ago in the Roman controlled outpost town of Jerusalem. When Jesus Christ rose from the dead and the Way began. A Way that is still going strong today.
You may disagree with me, but let's think about it for a moment. An itinerant Jewish preacher with no formal training, no political power or money, no educated or influential followers, was rejected by his own people and crucified by the Romans. If he was just a man who died, his movement should have died with him.
But it didn't. What's more this movement or the Way as it was called, continued to grow despite immense persecution. Paul himself persecuted followers of the Way until he had an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Why would Paul turn his life around? Why would he start preaching in support of the Way and start churches wherever he could? Why would he continue, even though he was constantly abused, beaten, and often thrown in jail for his beliefs?
And then the Romans decided to eliminate the Way once and for all, by throwing followers to the lions literally. But still the Way not only survived but thrived.
Even today there is persecution around the world. In Australia it is not physical persecution but there is no doubt our media has an agenda of criticism.
Interestingly in the latest census, although the number of people who nominally describe themselves as Christian has decreased to 43%, the number of people who actively go to church which has been stable at 15% over the last 30 years, actually increased to 16%.
How can this be? Rationally the Way (initially regarded as a minor Jewish sect) should never have gotten off the ground, let alone still be active around the world over 2000 years later.
The only rational explanation is that Jesus was the son of God and did in fact rise from the dead, so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. That he changed people's lives 2000 years ago by the power of the Holy Spirit and is still doing that today. This is the greatest moment in history and one we should be proud to tell others about.
If you don't know the Way, at least check it out – don't walk past the greatest moment in history.
Go with God.
Peter O'Sullivan
PS This is the 5th anniversary of the Sports Devotions. I want to thank all of you who take the time to read them. I sincerely hope you have been uplifted by them as much as I have been. If no one wanted to read them – I wouldn't be writing them. Thank you!
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