Yesterday I watched for 3 quarters as the Carolina Panthers surgically destroyed the New York Giants and built a lead of 35-7. For most of that time, Cam Newton looked a lot like a MVP.
But it was what I saw at the end of an unbelievable comeback by the Giants and/or meltdown by the Panthers that really caught my attention.
It was right after Odell Beckham, Jr. caught the game-tying touchdown.
It was in the middle of a 79,436 person celebration in MetLife Stadium (well, minus the stunned Panthers fans who were there).
It only lasted a few seconds, but when the cameras caught Cam’s face on the sideline, he didn’t look like a MVP anymore.
For a moment, he looked like Jesus.
I should probably explain before I’m accused of heresy, so let’s start with some Scripture. It’s found in the book of Luke (Luuuukkkkkkeeeeee), and it takes place right after the disciples had a spat about who would be the greatest and right before Jesus puts their pride in its place by highlighting that there is actually a cost to following him.
As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51)
That verse was a throwback to an ancient prophecy found in the book of Isaiah describing what would be done to Jesus and how he would respond.
I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. (Isaiah 50:6-7)
Now, back to Luke (the book, not arguably the best defensive player in the NFL). Jesus, knowing that his mission is a cross on the way to a crown, and knowing that the stakes could not be higher nor the opposition fiercer, set his face like stone and feet toward the place where he would complete his mission.
What’s a face set like stone look like, you ask? A lot like this:
It looks like Cam on the sideline with less than 2 minutes to go. Not dropping his head. Not mad at a defense who inexplicably folded like a paper bag under the pressure of a crazed, desperate Giants team.
Just a face that says, “I got this.”
Now…….
Forget football, because as exciting as this historic run by the Carolina Panthers is, it’s just…football. But the truth that there is a Savior who stepped out of eternity to become like us so that we could become like him? That’s true. Absolutely 100% true, and it means everything.
It means that when you and I find ourselves on the wrong side of a satanic avalanche…
When we find ourselves in the middle of an enemy ambush that has flipped our world from victorious to vicious…
When we get up off the mat after having struggled mightily only to have failed publicly…
We can look to the author and finisher of our faith – the King Jesus, born in a manger in order to be raised a Redeemer – and we will see that face.
[Tweet “King Jesus was born in a manger in order to be raised a Redeemer.”]A face set like stone.
Resolute on his mission to rescue us and restore to us a hope that seemed lost…
A life that seemed gone…
A grace that we could never have earned.
[Tweet “The enemy that may rattle us will never rattle Jesus.”]All because the enemy that may rattle us will never rattle Jesus.
He tried, but all he saw was a warrior’s face – set like stone – sending one message to our foe.
“I got this.”
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