One of the most memorable moments in Olympics history came in the semi-final of the 400metres at the 1992 Barcelona Games. Derek Redmond was the British entrant, and he held out strong hopes for a medal. He held the British record for the 400 metres and his 400 metre relay team were already European champions.
Redmond had experienced heartbreak in the 1998 Seoul Olympics when injury forced him to pull out of his heat just minutes before it was due to be run. But this time around he was determined to win. He said he wanted to win to honour his father who had supported him all his life.
And now his time had come. The starters gun fired and Redmond set off. 140 metres down the track he was in a strong position when his hamstring gave way. He collapsed to the ground in a ball of pain and tears. Medics ran out to assist him but Redman waved them away. He was determined to finish the race, even if he couldn't win it. And so he crawled and hobbled his way along the track.
At this point Redmond's father Jim raced down from the stands, pushed the security guards aside and ran out to his son. He placed an arm around Derek and supported him as he hobbled the rest of the way.
"You don't have to do this" Jim told his son.
"Yes I do" Derek replied.
"Well then" said Jim, "we're going to finish this together"
Then, just before they reached the finish line, with the crowd screaming in support, Jim Redmond let his son go, so that he could cross the line on his own.
Interviewed after this incredible race, Derek Redmond said that his father was the only one who could help him, because he was the only one who knew what he'd been through.
Application: incarnation. Christ comes alongside us and enables us to finish our race, because he knows what we've been through. He became a human being and lived as a human being. According to Hebrews this makes Jesus the perfect high priest, able to sympathise with our weaknesses.
Application: perseverance, life, the race, determination, dedication, commitment. The apostle Paul and the writer to Hebrews both compare the Christian life to running a race. The goal is not necessarily to be first across the line, but to get across it. And in running that race, like Derek Redmond, we do not run alone. We have the support of the Spirit and a crowd of fellow believers screaming encouragement to us from the stands. What's more this support from God comes not only in the form of celebration when we succeed, but standing by our side when we fall.
Sources: Information obtained from Sports Illustrated, celebagents.cok.uk,
india-today.com and Tony Campolo, Let Me Tell You A Story