Victory Feast
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series V, Cycle A
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Exodus 12:1--4 (5--10) 11--14 (C); Exodus 12:1--8, 11--14 (RC); Exodus 12:1--14a (E); Exodus 12:1--14 (L)
The passover marked the beginning of a new era for the Israelites. ''This month shall be for you the beginning of months'' (v. 2). The people are ordered to set aside a flawless lamb to be slaughtered, roasted and eaten on the 14th day of the month. Everyone was to be part of the feast. The meal was to be eaten in haste because God was on the move. The people are to be ready to leave as soon as the Lord breaks the bars of slavery. The blood is to be placed on their door posts and lintels as a redemptive sign, so that no plague might come near them. They were to keep this festival in perpetuity, as a remembrance of God's redemptive act.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 11:23--26 (C, RC); 1 Corinthians 11:23--26 (27--32) (E); 1 Corinthians 11:17--32 (L)
Paul dresses down the Corinthian Church for their insensitive abuse of the Agape Feast. Some were eating out of turn, while others were getting drunk. The poor and hungry were overlooked. By the time the community was ready for the Eucharist, the abuses worked against the possibility of a holy communion. The apostle tells the story of the institution of the Lord's Supper to instill a spirit of awe and sacredness in the hearts of the rowdy Corinthians. It is this rendition of the Words of Institution that is employed by most churches in their liturgies. Paul concludes by warning against an undiscerning and irreverent reception of the Lord's Supper.
Gospel: John 13:1--17, 31b--35 (C); John 13:1--15 (RC, E); John 13:1--17, 34 (L)
John has no account of the institution of the Lord's Supper. Instead, he recounts another act of Christ's self--giving love, the washing of his disciples' feet, which takes place at the Passover celebration. This gesture is an acted--out parable that provides a teaching moment. ''So if I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet'' (v. 14). Since the Lord Jesus had shown himself their servant, they too must be willing to serve the needs of others. The Lord's words and actions were of one piece. The disciples must be willing to follow that example.
Gospel: Luke 22:14--30 (E)
In this version of the giving of the Lord's Supper, we observe an emphasis on the future. Jesus mentions that he will not partake of this feast again until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. The disciples will also be given the kingdom and shall become judges of the 12 tribes of Israel. The apostles argue about who is the greatest but Jesus teaches them that true greatness comes to those who are willing to follow in his steps as servants.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 116:1--2, 12--19 (C) - ''What shall I repay to the Lord for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord'' (vv. 12--13).
Psalm 78:14--20, 23--25 (E) - ''Mortals ate of the bread of angels ...'' (v. 25).
Psalm 116:10--17 (L) - ''Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his servants'' (v. 13).
Prayer Of The Day
Bounteous God, as you have freely showered your blessings upon us, so also fill us with the Bread of Heaven, that we might hunger no more, and the cup of salvation, to quench our thirsty souls. In Jesus' name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Exodus 12:1--14
A meal for sharing. The instructions are that each household is to gather for a meal of roasted lamb. Those households too small or too poor to provide a lamb for themselves are instructed to join with their neighbors who have more than enough. No one was to be excluded because of their economic situation from the appointed feast. However, this feast was not to be a gluttonous affair. Each household is to carefully take a count and apportion the lamb so there is enough but without excess. If anything remained in the morning, it was to be burned. From this, we learn that everyone has a right to share equally in the feast. This also touches on the situation that Paul addresses in 1 Corinthians 11:17ff, where there was a lack of equality and sharing. In this situation (the Eucharist), all the members of the family of faith are to have equal access to the Lamb of God who frees us from our sins. It is the Lord's supper - not our private feast.
Fast food. In verse 11, the Lord instructs the people to eat the Passover meal fully clothed, ready to leave at a moment's notice. The redeemed of the Lord must be ready to follow the Lord toward the land of promise. The ritual meal was not an end in itself but a means of empowerment for the journey of life. Those who shared the meal were to live out their identity as God's people in the world.
Written in blood. God tells the Israelites that the blood, which they were to affix to their doorposts, was to be a sign that God's people lived there. Judgment would not befall them. They were saved by the blood. The old covenant was written in blood but so is the new covenant. When Christ extended the cup to his disciples at the Last Supper, he announced: ''This is my blood of the (new) covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins'' (v. 28). The blood is a sign of redemption, by which we gain freedom, and life. In the old covenant, the blood was applied externally; but in the new covenant, it is received internally. The divine life--force is now within the believer, who becomes a redemptive sign in the world.
The gift of remembrance. The Israelites are told to keep the feast as a memorial to God's great act of redemption. Think how great a gift memory is! Without it we wouldn't be human. There wouldn't be any civilization or progress. Through the gift of memory the past is present. The reenactment of the Passover feast would enable the Jews to remember God's great act of redemption, through which they became God's holy people. At the Last Supper Jesus said, ''Do this in remembrance of me.'' It is essential that we remember the act whereby God claimed us as his own in Christ, through the shedding of his blood.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 11:17--32
His body broken, his blood poured out. Before the Lord gave his disciples the Passover bread, he broke it. The bread had to be broken to be shared. Without breaking, the bread could not give life. As with the bread, so it was with his life. Jesus knew that before he could bestow the gift of life on a dying world, his body had to be broken. The broken bread and the wine poured
out sacramentally would proclaim the Lord's atoning death on the cross for all future generations. Food that is kept whole or in its container is not available to give life. We too must be ready to be broken and poured out, so that Christ might give life to others through us.
Spiritual gourmets. Paul warns against gluttony and instructs that we must become spiritual gourmets. That is, we must be discerning about what we put in our mouths or our lives. He maintains that it is unhealthy, even damnable, to eat the communion bread and wine without discerning the body of Christ (vv. 28--29). This is a warning against unthinking and careless participation in the sacrament. Unfortunately, some believers have been driven into spasms of anxiety about what it means to receive the body and blood in an unworthy manner. This has kept some away from the Lord's table. We need to remind one another that this is a meal of grace in which the unworthy are invited, not the worthy.
More about discerning the body of Christ. Discerning the Lord's body goes far beyond the confines of the sacramental celebration. The apostle is informing us that we must discern the Lord's body within the community of believers. How we receive our brothers and sisters is more important than the manner in which we receive the communion bread. When we hurt a fellow believer, we do injury to Christ's body. When we fail to see Christ in other believers, even those who have a different theological perspective, we are in danger of profaning the body of Christ. How can we receive Christ without receiving our neighbor?
Gospel: John 13:1--17, 31b--35
Endless love. John tells us that Jesus loved those who belonged to him, to the end (v. 2). Yet, death was no end for him. His resurrection shows that his spirit partakes of the eternal and that we too participate in the realm of the eternal through him. Christ's love is without limits; it is endless love.
The importance of knowing who you are. John portrays Jesus as having it all together. He knew where he had come from and where he was going. That is, that he had come from God and was going back to God (v. 3). Jesus knew who he was. This knowledge is essential if we are to act with grace and purpose. If we know that we belong to the Lord, we don't have to prove anything to ourselves or others. Since Jesus knew who he was, he was free to take the role of servant and wash his disciples' feet. He knew he was somebody; he didn't have to prove it. If we know who we are in Christ, we too are free to serve the needs of others.
It takes grace to be served as well as to be the servant. When Christ approached Peter with the wash basin and towel, Peter brashly declares, ''You shall never wash my feet.'' Jesus responds, ''Unless I wash you, you have no part in me'' (v. 8). Our pride keeps us not only from being the servant but also from being served. We don't like feeling beholden to any person. We deceive ourselves into believing we are self--made people. No person can follow Christ without the humility to let Christ and others meet his or her needs. Such service cleanses us from pride and the illusion of self--sufficiency.
An exemplary Christian. After the foot washing, Christ informed his disciples that he had set an example which they were to follow (v. 15). An exemplary Christian is not one who does all things perfectly but rather one who incarnates the love of Christ.
PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Exodus 12:1--14
Sermon Title: A Meal Is For Sharing
Sermon Angle: The Passover meal was to be shared with all the people, without the distinctions of sex, status or economic position. The Lord's supper was shared with all the disciples, even the traitor Judas. Meals, in general, are meant for sharing, not only food but our very selves. Due to our fast paced and compartmentalized lives, contemporary people are increasingly disengaged from the ritual of the table. Food and fellowship go hand in hand. You can help your people to see the sacramental possibilities for all meals; that we should share our lives along with our food.
Outline:
1. The Passover was a meal of sharing
- God gave them life and they gave their lambs
- the well--off shared with the needy
- the shared meal indicated a shared destiny
2. The Lord's Supper is a meal of sharing
- Christ gave his life to us
- we share his life with each other
- we also share the bread of life with a starving world
Sermon Title: The Gift of Remembrance
Sermon Angle: The Passover was a memorial feast. The people of the covenant were never to forget God's redemptive actions on their behalf. Unfortunately, they soon forgot. Christ said, ''Do this in remembrance of me.'' Woe to us if we ever forget the great price God paid to redeem us.
Outline:
1. Without the gift of remembrance we are lost
- we lose sight of who we are
- we lose touch with the past (Alzheimer's is a tragic example)
2. The Passover is a meal of remembrance
- the Jews are to remember what God had done for them
- they are to recall who they were in him
3. Holy Communion is a meal of remembrance
- we remember what Christ has done for us and
- we remember who we are through him
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 11:17--32
Sermon Title: Broken Bread, Broken Lord, Broken People
Sermon Angle: Christ broke the bread in order to share it with his disciples. He let his body be broken on the cross to share it with the world. We are to let Christ break us of our pride and arrogance that he might share us with the world.
Outline:
1. Christ took the Passover bread and broke it and shared it
2. Christ gave his life as bread on the cross, that it might be shared with the world
3. Let your life be broken in repentance and faith, that all might be nourished
Gospel: John 13:1--17, 31b--35
Sermon Title: Role Reversal
Sermon Angle: Jesus took the role of the servant even though he was the Lord and teacher. It was symbolic of the servant role which he assumed throughout his life. Christ's life was one of serving the needs of others even though he was, in fact, Lord and Master. The disciples were treated as the favored guests, even though they were the pupils and workers in the kingdom. In life, we assume both roles, which are frequently reversed. We must always stand ready to be the servant but there are other occasions in which we must be willing to be served. It takes grace to assume either role.
Outline:
1. Jesus was Lord but gladly assumed the servant role
2. The disciples were the Lord's servants but they shunned this role
3. Christ's foot washing is a living example of self--giving service
- it was a reversal of role expectations
- if the Lord assumed this role, how much more should we
4. We must also have the humility to let Christ and others serve our needs
- we are sometimes the honored guest (example - Lord's Supper)
- at all times we must be willing to be the servants of the Lord
There was a chief executive of a large corporation who did a very unorthodox thing. He would arrive at the office an hour before his staff arrived and proceeded to go from department to department brewing warm coffee. When his employees arrived, the hot, fresh coffee would be waiting for them, from the lowliest errand boy to the top executives. At first, they were mystified about the source of this service but soon the word leaked out that the boss was responsible.
It is interesting to note the manner of response to this kindness. Many employees were touched by their boss' action. It made them resolve to be more dedicated in their work and more considerate of their fellow workers. Others, however, reacted differently. They felt that their superior's behavior was highly inappropriate. They were offended that he stepped outside his appointed role and were fearful that they might be expected to manifest the same humility toward those who worked under them. They were suspicious of his motives. What does he want from me? However, among those who responded favorably to the actions of their chief executive, a spirit of community and cooperation developed that transformed the entire organization. (Based on a story from The Scandal of Lent by Robert Kysar.)
The Gospel of John shows Jesus to be one who knew who he was. This knowledge gave him the security to step outside his expected role and be the servant. Eric Liddell, the heroic character in the movie Chariots Of Fire was also a person of power that derived from a clear image of who he was. He was scheduled to race in the Olympiad on Sunday but refused, based on his Christian principles. He believed that Sunday was the day to worship and honor the Lord. Later, he won the 400 meter race but what really impressed the world was Liddell's shining Christian example on and off the track. His life was imbued with spiritual potency, not because of any innate ability, but because the pattern of his behavior fit the pattern of his beliefs. His life was a glorious example of the Christ's life.
Lesson 1: Exodus 12:1--4 (5--10) 11--14 (C); Exodus 12:1--8, 11--14 (RC); Exodus 12:1--14a (E); Exodus 12:1--14 (L)
The passover marked the beginning of a new era for the Israelites. ''This month shall be for you the beginning of months'' (v. 2). The people are ordered to set aside a flawless lamb to be slaughtered, roasted and eaten on the 14th day of the month. Everyone was to be part of the feast. The meal was to be eaten in haste because God was on the move. The people are to be ready to leave as soon as the Lord breaks the bars of slavery. The blood is to be placed on their door posts and lintels as a redemptive sign, so that no plague might come near them. They were to keep this festival in perpetuity, as a remembrance of God's redemptive act.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 11:23--26 (C, RC); 1 Corinthians 11:23--26 (27--32) (E); 1 Corinthians 11:17--32 (L)
Paul dresses down the Corinthian Church for their insensitive abuse of the Agape Feast. Some were eating out of turn, while others were getting drunk. The poor and hungry were overlooked. By the time the community was ready for the Eucharist, the abuses worked against the possibility of a holy communion. The apostle tells the story of the institution of the Lord's Supper to instill a spirit of awe and sacredness in the hearts of the rowdy Corinthians. It is this rendition of the Words of Institution that is employed by most churches in their liturgies. Paul concludes by warning against an undiscerning and irreverent reception of the Lord's Supper.
Gospel: John 13:1--17, 31b--35 (C); John 13:1--15 (RC, E); John 13:1--17, 34 (L)
John has no account of the institution of the Lord's Supper. Instead, he recounts another act of Christ's self--giving love, the washing of his disciples' feet, which takes place at the Passover celebration. This gesture is an acted--out parable that provides a teaching moment. ''So if I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet'' (v. 14). Since the Lord Jesus had shown himself their servant, they too must be willing to serve the needs of others. The Lord's words and actions were of one piece. The disciples must be willing to follow that example.
Gospel: Luke 22:14--30 (E)
In this version of the giving of the Lord's Supper, we observe an emphasis on the future. Jesus mentions that he will not partake of this feast again until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. The disciples will also be given the kingdom and shall become judges of the 12 tribes of Israel. The apostles argue about who is the greatest but Jesus teaches them that true greatness comes to those who are willing to follow in his steps as servants.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 116:1--2, 12--19 (C) - ''What shall I repay to the Lord for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord'' (vv. 12--13).
Psalm 78:14--20, 23--25 (E) - ''Mortals ate of the bread of angels ...'' (v. 25).
Psalm 116:10--17 (L) - ''Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his servants'' (v. 13).
Prayer Of The Day
Bounteous God, as you have freely showered your blessings upon us, so also fill us with the Bread of Heaven, that we might hunger no more, and the cup of salvation, to quench our thirsty souls. In Jesus' name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Exodus 12:1--14
A meal for sharing. The instructions are that each household is to gather for a meal of roasted lamb. Those households too small or too poor to provide a lamb for themselves are instructed to join with their neighbors who have more than enough. No one was to be excluded because of their economic situation from the appointed feast. However, this feast was not to be a gluttonous affair. Each household is to carefully take a count and apportion the lamb so there is enough but without excess. If anything remained in the morning, it was to be burned. From this, we learn that everyone has a right to share equally in the feast. This also touches on the situation that Paul addresses in 1 Corinthians 11:17ff, where there was a lack of equality and sharing. In this situation (the Eucharist), all the members of the family of faith are to have equal access to the Lamb of God who frees us from our sins. It is the Lord's supper - not our private feast.
Fast food. In verse 11, the Lord instructs the people to eat the Passover meal fully clothed, ready to leave at a moment's notice. The redeemed of the Lord must be ready to follow the Lord toward the land of promise. The ritual meal was not an end in itself but a means of empowerment for the journey of life. Those who shared the meal were to live out their identity as God's people in the world.
Written in blood. God tells the Israelites that the blood, which they were to affix to their doorposts, was to be a sign that God's people lived there. Judgment would not befall them. They were saved by the blood. The old covenant was written in blood but so is the new covenant. When Christ extended the cup to his disciples at the Last Supper, he announced: ''This is my blood of the (new) covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins'' (v. 28). The blood is a sign of redemption, by which we gain freedom, and life. In the old covenant, the blood was applied externally; but in the new covenant, it is received internally. The divine life--force is now within the believer, who becomes a redemptive sign in the world.
The gift of remembrance. The Israelites are told to keep the feast as a memorial to God's great act of redemption. Think how great a gift memory is! Without it we wouldn't be human. There wouldn't be any civilization or progress. Through the gift of memory the past is present. The reenactment of the Passover feast would enable the Jews to remember God's great act of redemption, through which they became God's holy people. At the Last Supper Jesus said, ''Do this in remembrance of me.'' It is essential that we remember the act whereby God claimed us as his own in Christ, through the shedding of his blood.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 11:17--32
His body broken, his blood poured out. Before the Lord gave his disciples the Passover bread, he broke it. The bread had to be broken to be shared. Without breaking, the bread could not give life. As with the bread, so it was with his life. Jesus knew that before he could bestow the gift of life on a dying world, his body had to be broken. The broken bread and the wine poured
out sacramentally would proclaim the Lord's atoning death on the cross for all future generations. Food that is kept whole or in its container is not available to give life. We too must be ready to be broken and poured out, so that Christ might give life to others through us.
Spiritual gourmets. Paul warns against gluttony and instructs that we must become spiritual gourmets. That is, we must be discerning about what we put in our mouths or our lives. He maintains that it is unhealthy, even damnable, to eat the communion bread and wine without discerning the body of Christ (vv. 28--29). This is a warning against unthinking and careless participation in the sacrament. Unfortunately, some believers have been driven into spasms of anxiety about what it means to receive the body and blood in an unworthy manner. This has kept some away from the Lord's table. We need to remind one another that this is a meal of grace in which the unworthy are invited, not the worthy.
More about discerning the body of Christ. Discerning the Lord's body goes far beyond the confines of the sacramental celebration. The apostle is informing us that we must discern the Lord's body within the community of believers. How we receive our brothers and sisters is more important than the manner in which we receive the communion bread. When we hurt a fellow believer, we do injury to Christ's body. When we fail to see Christ in other believers, even those who have a different theological perspective, we are in danger of profaning the body of Christ. How can we receive Christ without receiving our neighbor?
Gospel: John 13:1--17, 31b--35
Endless love. John tells us that Jesus loved those who belonged to him, to the end (v. 2). Yet, death was no end for him. His resurrection shows that his spirit partakes of the eternal and that we too participate in the realm of the eternal through him. Christ's love is without limits; it is endless love.
The importance of knowing who you are. John portrays Jesus as having it all together. He knew where he had come from and where he was going. That is, that he had come from God and was going back to God (v. 3). Jesus knew who he was. This knowledge is essential if we are to act with grace and purpose. If we know that we belong to the Lord, we don't have to prove anything to ourselves or others. Since Jesus knew who he was, he was free to take the role of servant and wash his disciples' feet. He knew he was somebody; he didn't have to prove it. If we know who we are in Christ, we too are free to serve the needs of others.
It takes grace to be served as well as to be the servant. When Christ approached Peter with the wash basin and towel, Peter brashly declares, ''You shall never wash my feet.'' Jesus responds, ''Unless I wash you, you have no part in me'' (v. 8). Our pride keeps us not only from being the servant but also from being served. We don't like feeling beholden to any person. We deceive ourselves into believing we are self--made people. No person can follow Christ without the humility to let Christ and others meet his or her needs. Such service cleanses us from pride and the illusion of self--sufficiency.
An exemplary Christian. After the foot washing, Christ informed his disciples that he had set an example which they were to follow (v. 15). An exemplary Christian is not one who does all things perfectly but rather one who incarnates the love of Christ.
PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Exodus 12:1--14
Sermon Title: A Meal Is For Sharing
Sermon Angle: The Passover meal was to be shared with all the people, without the distinctions of sex, status or economic position. The Lord's supper was shared with all the disciples, even the traitor Judas. Meals, in general, are meant for sharing, not only food but our very selves. Due to our fast paced and compartmentalized lives, contemporary people are increasingly disengaged from the ritual of the table. Food and fellowship go hand in hand. You can help your people to see the sacramental possibilities for all meals; that we should share our lives along with our food.
Outline:
1. The Passover was a meal of sharing
- God gave them life and they gave their lambs
- the well--off shared with the needy
- the shared meal indicated a shared destiny
2. The Lord's Supper is a meal of sharing
- Christ gave his life to us
- we share his life with each other
- we also share the bread of life with a starving world
Sermon Title: The Gift of Remembrance
Sermon Angle: The Passover was a memorial feast. The people of the covenant were never to forget God's redemptive actions on their behalf. Unfortunately, they soon forgot. Christ said, ''Do this in remembrance of me.'' Woe to us if we ever forget the great price God paid to redeem us.
Outline:
1. Without the gift of remembrance we are lost
- we lose sight of who we are
- we lose touch with the past (Alzheimer's is a tragic example)
2. The Passover is a meal of remembrance
- the Jews are to remember what God had done for them
- they are to recall who they were in him
3. Holy Communion is a meal of remembrance
- we remember what Christ has done for us and
- we remember who we are through him
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 11:17--32
Sermon Title: Broken Bread, Broken Lord, Broken People
Sermon Angle: Christ broke the bread in order to share it with his disciples. He let his body be broken on the cross to share it with the world. We are to let Christ break us of our pride and arrogance that he might share us with the world.
Outline:
1. Christ took the Passover bread and broke it and shared it
2. Christ gave his life as bread on the cross, that it might be shared with the world
3. Let your life be broken in repentance and faith, that all might be nourished
Gospel: John 13:1--17, 31b--35
Sermon Title: Role Reversal
Sermon Angle: Jesus took the role of the servant even though he was the Lord and teacher. It was symbolic of the servant role which he assumed throughout his life. Christ's life was one of serving the needs of others even though he was, in fact, Lord and Master. The disciples were treated as the favored guests, even though they were the pupils and workers in the kingdom. In life, we assume both roles, which are frequently reversed. We must always stand ready to be the servant but there are other occasions in which we must be willing to be served. It takes grace to assume either role.
Outline:
1. Jesus was Lord but gladly assumed the servant role
2. The disciples were the Lord's servants but they shunned this role
3. Christ's foot washing is a living example of self--giving service
- it was a reversal of role expectations
- if the Lord assumed this role, how much more should we
4. We must also have the humility to let Christ and others serve our needs
- we are sometimes the honored guest (example - Lord's Supper)
- at all times we must be willing to be the servants of the Lord
There was a chief executive of a large corporation who did a very unorthodox thing. He would arrive at the office an hour before his staff arrived and proceeded to go from department to department brewing warm coffee. When his employees arrived, the hot, fresh coffee would be waiting for them, from the lowliest errand boy to the top executives. At first, they were mystified about the source of this service but soon the word leaked out that the boss was responsible.
It is interesting to note the manner of response to this kindness. Many employees were touched by their boss' action. It made them resolve to be more dedicated in their work and more considerate of their fellow workers. Others, however, reacted differently. They felt that their superior's behavior was highly inappropriate. They were offended that he stepped outside his appointed role and were fearful that they might be expected to manifest the same humility toward those who worked under them. They were suspicious of his motives. What does he want from me? However, among those who responded favorably to the actions of their chief executive, a spirit of community and cooperation developed that transformed the entire organization. (Based on a story from The Scandal of Lent by Robert Kysar.)
The Gospel of John shows Jesus to be one who knew who he was. This knowledge gave him the security to step outside his expected role and be the servant. Eric Liddell, the heroic character in the movie Chariots Of Fire was also a person of power that derived from a clear image of who he was. He was scheduled to race in the Olympiad on Sunday but refused, based on his Christian principles. He believed that Sunday was the day to worship and honor the Lord. Later, he won the 400 meter race but what really impressed the world was Liddell's shining Christian example on and off the track. His life was imbued with spiritual potency, not because of any innate ability, but because the pattern of his behavior fit the pattern of his beliefs. His life was a glorious example of the Christ's life.
