Preparations for the 2012 Olympics are well underway. And one of the events is going to be the marathon, a long-distance endurance race with the official distance of 26 miles and 385 yards.
When the modern Olympics first began in Athens, organizers looked for an event that would bring to remembrance the glory of ancient Greece. The idea was introduced to have a running race that was inspired by the legendary story of Pheidippides. He was an Athenian soldier who fought in the Battle of Marathon, Greece in 490BC. There the Greeks overcame the invading Persians despite being outnumbered. Immediately after the battle, Pheidippides was dispatched to Athens to deliver the news of victory to the magistrates who were anxious about how the battle ended. He ran continuously for the whole 25 miles from Marathon to Athens. Upon reaching Athens, he delivered the news, “Rejoice! We’ve won!” Then, totally exhausted, he collapsed and died.
The apostle Paul often used the running race as a metaphor for life, or ministry, or perhaps both. In Acts 20.24 Paul declares: “I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Clearly this pictures a marathon that calls for endurance. And his desire is to finish the race and bring honor to the Lord.
Though probably not in Paul’s mind, I could not help but connect his metaphor with the story of Pheidippides. Both had a task to accomplish. And they both completed their task. And when Paul speaks of “testifying the good news of God’s grace,” he is actually declaring the victory of God in Christ Jesus. It is as though he is declaring, “Rejoice! In Jesus, we win!” And he was willing, no, it was his joy to give his all—even his very life—to share that message to everyone.
In many ways, such is the calling of every follower of Christ, to make known the victorious work of Christ at the cross over the power of sin and death. “‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ 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” (1Corinthians 15.55–57 NIV). This is our message; this is our joy.
—Keith Jainga