Before the Cross: Fruit of the Spiritಮಾದರಿ

Fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control

Maybe sports (especially football) and Christianity receive too much comparison today.

Well, brace yourself for another.

There’s a great picture of Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten from the 2007 season. After catching a pass and taking a hit, his helmet was stripped off, only for him to continue running with the ball with a laser focus on the end zone.

It’s a picture that reminds me of self-control. Though it’s only a game, it’s a violent game played by plus-sized men with high degrees of acceleration. Mass multiplied by acceleration equals force, and if helmetless Jason Witten was to be hit by an opposing force, his head may have suffered severe consequences.

He didn’t score, but he will be remembered in Cowboy lore for doing something that always deserves respect in team sports. He sacrificed his own wellbeing for the team.

And, it happened against the Philadelphia Eagles. Bonus.

I think of Jesus and what his laser-like focus must have been when shouldering the cross, making that long, hot, dusty, spit-soaked and bloodstained trek up to Calvary knowing the pain was only going to get worse at the top of the hill.

I think of earlier in the Bible when Jesus withstood the most tantalizing temptations ever put before man while in a weakened state by the adversary of adversaries.

I think of how people tried to hurt, manipulate, curse and deny Jesus despite his kindness, compassion and truth-telling only for Him to ask His father for them to be forgiven when He had suffered as much as a person could suffer.

And I think about how by believing in Him, I’ve been forgiven and have access to the same love that has the power to keep my own selfish desires in check and promote the welfare of others in action and in word.

Jesus went more than helmetless. He eschewed divine physical protection in favor of God’s will to do only what Jesus could have done. He lived a perfect life. He died on a cross. He rose again to win the victory of all victories.

And it was against death.

Bonus.