Succession – a race?!
Series: Follow me | Bible text: 1 Corinthians 9:24–27
Following Jesus Christ is compared to a race for a valuable prize. Everyone should run in such a way that they win. The promised goal, the prize, is eternal life in the presence of God. This image makes it clear that our living body is of great importance. The body shows to whom a person belongs.
I was recently on Facebook again after a long time. There I saw a comment on a profile of a former youth choir kid that fits in well with today’s sermon. This young man is now in his early twenties and invests a lot of time and energy in boxing. In this post, he made the following statement in English «Why are you always busy? – I have a dream to finish! » «Why are you always so busy? – Because I have a dream to fulfil!». I interpret this statement to mean that he puts so much time into his goal of fulfilling this dream that everything else has to take a back seat.
Today’s sermon is about Paul describing discipleship as a race and a boxing match. Paul writes about this in his first letter to the Corinthians.
Running, like in a race
So that we can classify the verses correctly, I would like to briefly explain the context of the letter. In the previous chapter, Paul talks about eating meat sacrificed to idols. At that time, an animal was usually slaughtered in a ceremony and so often only meat sacrificed to idols was available to eat. He says that eating this meat cannot harm them. Nevertheless, he calls on them to abstain because this can put people with a weak conscience in a difficult position. To further emphasise this point, he speaks of his own freedom in the few verses before and concludes with the statement «I do all this to spread God’s good news so that I too can share in its blessings» (1 Corinthians 9:23 NLB). He renounces some things. For example, paid accommodation and food. On having a wife with him. On the other hand, he works for his own living. He adapts himself. He abides by the law, even though he is free of it. With non-Jews he conforms as much as possible and with people who are weak, he makes himself weak. But he always keeps the law that Jesus gave him. He subordinates everything to his cause: To follow Jesus and invite others to follow him. Paul led many people to follow Jesus Christ. We can learn a lot from him about what discipleship looks like. He shows this here using an example from sport.
«Remember that everyone runs like in a race, but only one person gets the prize. Run so that you win it! Every athlete übt strict self-discipline. However, he does so in order to win a prize whose value will fade - But we do it forür an eternal prize. So I always keep the goal in mind and run towards it with every step. I canäI fight like a boxer, but not like a boxer punching into the void.ägt. With the iron discipline of an athlete, I conquer my body so that it obeys me. Otherwise, I would have to fear that I might have preached to others, but that I might disqualify myself afterwards» (1 Corinthians 9:24–27 NLB). So how should followers of Jesus Christ behave? They should run like winners. Focussed on their goal. According to the introductory story «Why are you always busy? – I have a dream to finish!» This includes good preparation. However, in contrast to the competition, he emphasises that not just one person can win, but everyone can win. The image of a competition or race is used by Paul a few times for the life of a follower of Jesus (2 Timothy 4:7 and Philippians 3:14)
In this example from the world of sport, Paul refers to something familiar. The Isthmian Games were held near Corinth. There it was customary for the winner to receive a wreath made from a plant. The athletes there used all their strength to win. But in the end, only one person could win. The succession is different. Here, everyone can win. Everyone runs towards a goal, but it’s not just about being in the race, it’s about reaching the goal.
The promised destination
What is waiting there at the destination and what is the destination? «And when the Chief Shepherd returns, you will be rewarded with his unlimited glory» (1 Peter 5:4 NLB). The reward will be unlimited glory. In Greek this is translated as a crown of victory – which was also the prize in most games. This is also the case with the Isthmians, for example. This symbolises the acquittal by God. It is a two-part victory wreath. On the one hand, it is the victory wreath of justice. «Now the prize awaits me – the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on the great day of his return. But he will not only give this prize to me, but to all those who long for his return» (2 Timothy 4:8 NLB). This prize is for all who long for the return of Jesus Christ. The followers of him are in this race and the prize is given to all who have this longing. On the other hand, all receive the victory crown of life. «Happy is he who patiently endures the trials of faith. When he has proved himself, he will receive eternal life [Greek: crown of victory], which God has promised to those who love him» (James 1:12 NLB).
We are talking about tests of faith here. What are these? This can be the postponement of a desire. Perseverance in a certain situation. Or difficulties that make me doubt the existence of God. Wouldn’t a life without following Jesus Christ be better because there would be no trials? Trial generally means a temptation, offence or challenge. Paul contradicts this. «Do not forget that the trials you are experiencing are the same as those faced by all people. But God is faithful. He will not let the trial become so strong that you can no longer resist it. When you are put to the test, he will immediately provide a way out so that you can stand firm» (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLB). The challenges are usually no different. You can’t have everything you want. Frugality is not just a phenomenon and requirement of the Bible. Venture researcher Siegbert A. Warwitz also sees the trend towards modesty in the current need for trekking and survival.
Succession is decided by the body
Paul’s words about the race are to be seen in the wider context of eating meat sacrificed to idols. Paul is covertly telling them to abstain from the meat. Here abstinence means renouncing the right to eat this meat. Theoretically, they have the right and also the freedom to do so. «Everything is allowed, but not everything is helpful. Everything is allowed, but not everything is good» (1 Corinthians 10:23 NLB). Paul renounces things in order to make room for the needs of following the gospel. Gospel means good news. It is the good news of a life in abundance. The message of renunciation and self-discipline was probably as well received then as it is today – not at all. N.T Wright summarises Paul’s statement as follows: «The gospel demands that you give up some of your «rights» and «freedoms», even if it feels like you’re undergoing tough athletic training» (N.T. Wright). People who took part in races didn’t just want to be there, they wanted to win. This means betting on everything you need to win. There is no point in taking part in a race if you don’t want to win!
Following Jesus Christ can cost me a lot. There is an incident in which Jesus seems to want to talk us out of following him. «On the way, one of the disciples said to Jesus, «I will go with you wherever you go. But Jesus answered him: «FüThe lakes have their building andögel have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to rest. To another he said: «Come, follow me.» But he replied: «Lord, let me go home first and bury my father.» Jesus replied: «Let the people who do not ask about God fücare for their dead. Your task is to go and proclaim the coming of the kingdom of God. Another said: «Yes, Lord, I want to go with you, but first let me say goodbye to my family.» But Jesus said: «Whoever puts a hand to the plough and then goes to theüis not suitable forüfor the kingdom of God.» » (Luke 9:57–62 NLB). To put it in the language Paul uses, if I want to reach the goal, I have to leave everything that disturbs me behind.
The athletes at the games at that time had to affirm that they had abstained from wine, meat and sexual intercourse during the ten-month preparation period. Self-control is an important skill not only for athletes, but also for followers, and for Paul this is part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:23). In addition to his description of the competition, Paul uses the image of a boxer. This was a tough profession in those days. Boxers were quite disfigured in the face – but highly respected in society. Paul fights like a boxer with full commitment and purpose. He treats his own body with iron discipline, just like an athlete does, so that it obeys him. This is Paul’s core message. A person’s own living body determines to whom they actually belong and by whom they are determined. Paul’s behaviour makes this clear. But it is not that Paul is against the body and regards it as bad. It is rather the opposite. «Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourselves, for God has paid a high price for you.üpaid for you. Therefore honour God with your body» (1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NLB). He is concerned with glorifying and honouring God in the body. What could this mean for you and your relationship with your living body?
Paul’s intention is for followers of Jesus Christ to prepare their earthly bodies for their true destiny. This is union with him in the resurrection. «For our perishable earthly body must be transformed into a heavenly body that will die no more. When this happens - when our vergäs everyday, earthly lifeöbody in untreatedäHeavenly, celestial joyörbody are transformed - then the scriptural word will be fulfilledücases: «Death was swallowed up by victory.» (1 Corinthians 15:53–54 NLB). This heavenly eternal body is the eternal prize at stake in the race. It is about eternal fellowship with God. The crown of victory for followers of Jesus is eternal life. Specifically, the bodily resurrection.
Possible questions for the small group
Read the Bible text: 1 Corinthians 9:24–27
- What is your first reaction when you hear the comparison of succession to a race or competition?
- What is the goal of your succession? What do you have in mind?
- In which area do you experience the most temptations/challenges/trials? How do you deal with them?
- What does the following statement do to you? A person’s own living body determines who they actually belong to and who determines them.
- How do you glorify God with your living body? Where are you doing the opposite and not giving him the honour?
