March 2, 2018 (Friday)
The Olympics have come to a close but sports news always has something to offer us. This week there’s a great story involving basketball. Sports Illustrated reported on its web site:
Iowa sophomore point guard Jordan Bohannon purposefully missed a free throw during last Sunday’s game against Northwestern. Bohannon shot a free throw off the front of the rim. Had he made the shot, it would have been Bohannon’s 35th consecutive successful free throw, surpassing the school record of Iowa’s Chris Street, who died in a car accident in 1993 while the streak was ongoing. A moment later, Bohannon pointed to the sky in an apparent tribute to Street. “That’s not my record to have,” Bohannon said after the game. “That record deserves to stay in his name.”
A selfless act like that is rarely seen in the raucous competition that characterizes contests of all kinds. In a situation where the player could have claimed to be the very best, he intentionally left that honor in the hands of another.
That reminds me of John the Baptist and Jesus. John the Baptist was incredibly popular. He preached in the out of doors characterized in the Bible as wilderness. Nevertheless, people came from far and near to see and hear him. His place in history could have qualified him as the last of the great prophets; instead he called himself “a voice.” His assignment was to prepare the way for the Messiah. His classic statement emphasizes his heartfelt humility: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 30:30 KJV).
When Jesus showed up where John was preaching, John pointed him out and said, “Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). “(W)hen Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John, John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.” (Matthew 3:13-15 NIV).
The result of John’s obedience to the Lord is found in the Bible: “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17 NIV).
Everyone has a job of his own in the Lord’s work. Some assignments bring praise and fame to the servants, and others work in second place, third place, or in the shadows where no one ever sees or knows what that person has done. Yet their work was vitally important to the kingdom of God.
I shall never forget the motto I saw on the wall, placed there by my friend who worked in that place: