Yesterday morning the UK celebrated “I am Team GB”, a spectacular occasion advertised as ‘the nation’s biggest sports day’. It was an opportunity to feel part of the Olympic glory of the successful British athletes from Rio.
From the comfort of our armchairs or even the playing fields of Birmingham, we could never hope to be Olympians ourselves, but claiming that ‘I am Team GB’ lets us feel part of the pride and accomplishment of these sporting giants.
As Christians, we often forget that we, too, are in a team game. We don’t compete as solo athletes, but as members of ‘Team Jesus’. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians he reminds us that “the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 15:56-57)
On our own, we can no more achieve the victor’s crown than pick up a gold medal at Rio. But the captain of our team – our substitute and representative – plays and wins for all those in his team. If we are in ‘Team Jesus’ we are ‘in’ him – given by grace all that he has won.
Being part of ‘I am Team GB’ lets us share the feeling of victory – being part of ‘Team Jesus’ gives us the victory itself. As the Apostle John says: “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” (1 John 5: 4-5).
Chris Porter, Lay Reader