Baseball Players of Advent: Joseph the Sacrifice Out

AdventBaseball-JosephWhat young boy hasn’t stepped onto a baseball field, stood beside home plate, and pretended to swing for the fences?  We picture ourselves in the pressure of batting in the 9th inning, with two outs, the bases loaded, and then knocking the ball out of the park to win the game in clutch fashion.  We dream of living that moment depicted in the movie the Natural starring Robert Redford.  However, more often than those dramatic moments, baseball games are won through the small details – the sacrifice flies, the executed bunts, the hits and runs.  Instead of telling their player to swing for the fences, crafty managers will sometimes ask players to hit the ball in a way that will get the batter out while advancing the runner.  It’s a strategy known as small ball.

This year for Advent, we are focusing on the “baseball players” in the story of Jesus’ birth.  We’ve looked at Zechariah the Captain, John the Baptist the leadoff hitter, Simeon the Franchise Veteran, and this week, we’re taking a look at Jesus’ adopted father Joseph – the batter who was asked to sacrifice.

Imagine being engaged to a girl and finding out she’s pregnant.  Imagine for just a moment all the thoughts that would run through your head?  How could she do this to me?  Who is the father?  What if my church community thinks I did this?  What will they think of me?  How do I explain this to people?  You can imagine Joseph’s desperate dilemma.

We’re not told much about Joseph, but we’re told that he was a righteous man, and instead of publicly humiliating Mary (which he was entitled to do), he decided that he would break-up with her quietly.  However, just as he had made up his mind to divorce Mary, an angel of the Lord visited him in a dream and informs him that Mary’s child was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and this child would save his people from their sins.

In obedience and trust in God, Joseph married Mary.  It was a decision that required a lot of sacrifice.  Every husband dreams of a wedding night with his bride, yet, Joseph waited to consummate his marriage until after Jesus’ birth.  Every father looks at their child, mesmerized with the idea that they co-produced this human being.  Joseph would look on Mary’s first born knowing the baby was not biologically his.  One of man’s oldest traditions is to name their son, but Jesus’ name was chosen for him.  On a couple of occasions, Joseph would have to move his family and pick up his life in order to protect his adopted son.

Joseph is like the superstar power hitter that was asked to bunt.  You can imagine the important game.  There’s runners on base, the team is behind, only an inning or two remain.  This is the moment to be clutch.  However, instead of telling the all-star power hitter to swing for the fences, the coach says, “I want you to bunt the ball. I want you to advance the runners and in the process give yourself up.”  It might infuriate a big hitter.  Not only will they miss their opportunity to shine in the spotlight or make ESPN’s Top Ten, the decision won’t better their personal batting statistics.  You can imagine how much the home crowd would boo the manager if they saw their best hitter square up to bunt the ball in a clutch moment.  A decision like that would send many all-stars into the eye of the camera or the Twittersphere to vent their displeasure about their coach’s decision.  But the best team players understand that the game is much bigger than just one person.  They understand that more often than not in baseball it’s the sacrifice out that wins the game.

Joseph teaches us what humility and service to God looks like.  He had so much at stake – his career, his reputation, his own satisfaction, and instead of thinking about himself, he sacrificed everything for the Kingdom of God.  While Jesus, as the Son of God, didn’t need an earthly example to follow, He certainly received it in His biological father Joseph.  Joseph committed his life to serving his adopted son and Messiah.  He may not have realized it at first, but that became his life mission and his legacy.

Baseball Players of Advent: Simeon the Franchise Veteran

AdventBaseball-SimeonWho doesn’t love winning the championship?  Who doesn’t tie their cleats in April dreaming of holding the trophy in October?  At the end of the season, when only one team celebrates, there’s a peculiarity that emerges.  The new players are excited, jumping up and down, showering each other with champagne.  They’ve completed quite the feat.   But the veterans, especially the ones that have waited their whole careers for that moment, they lift the trophy like a giant weight off their shoulder.  The way they cry over it, the way they kiss it, the way they cherish it – their long suffering produces an unmatched appreciation.  They haven’t just played the season for that moment.  They’ve played their entire careers for that moment.

This year for Advent, we are focusing on the “baseball players” in the story of Jesus’ birth.  We’ve looked at Zechariah the Captain, and John the Baptist he Leadoff Batter.  This week we’re focussing on Simeon – the Franchise Veteran.

In Luke 2, we’re told that Simeon was a righteous and devout man who had the Holy Spirit on him.  This old man was living for one promise – the Lord told him that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah.  Eight days after Jesus’ birth, the Lord led him to the Temple.  As he waited there, Joseph and Mary entered, carrying their newborn to the priest to be circumcised and dedicated.  Simeon didn’t hesitate.  Like a seasoned player waiting to get his hands on a trophy, Simeon grabbed Jesus and began singing praises.

We can imagine the fear and awkwardness that Joseph and Mary must have felt.  Knowing that they were charged with caring for the Messiah, they must have lived with a heightened sense of awareness.  This trip to the Temple was most likely their first public appearance, and right away a crazy old man snatched Jesus right from their arms.

As they soon found out, this man was more than a stranger.  He was a prophet.  They didn’t fully understand the weight of the baby in their arms, but Simeon knew.  He was finally holding the Messiah.

Joseph and Mary were thrown very quickly into the story of Advent.  The angelic visitations, the virgin birth, the challenges that came with parenting the Messiah, the things people said about their baby – it probably seemed like a giant whirlwind to them.  How many times they must have asked each other, “What just happened?”

But Simeon, he was a man waiting for this very moment.  Like the veteran who is handed the trophy and the microphone, years of longing and hoping poured forth from his heart like pure gold.  Lou Gherig’s words, “I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth,” were enshrined into baseball’s legacy. Simeon’s words would be enshrined into the Gospel forever.

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may dismiss your servant in peace.  For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.  This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.  And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Simeon teaches us the beauty of waiting on the Lord.  Often times we pass off the Lord’s promises because we haven’t invested our heart into it.  Jesus aptly said, “Where your heart is, there your treasure is also.”  As Simeon demonstrates, when our hearts are fixated on God and His promises, we will wait, hope, and trust in Him.  And when the Lord decides to faithfully fulfill those promises, they will seem all the sweeter to us.  “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus” is the hymn of veterans who appreciate the glory that comes through long suffering, waiting, and hoping.

Baseball Players of Advent – John the Baptist the Leadoff Batter

AdventBaseball-John

There’s a certain strategy to a baseball batting lineup. The leadoff batter is typically someone who is consistent at getting on base. They’re generally fast and can generate stolen bases. But their purpose is not to hit homeruns. Their purpose is simply to get on base and stay on base for the cleanup hitter, because the cleanup hitter is typically the power hitter who can bring them home.

This year for Advent, we are focusing on the “baseball players” in the story of Jesus’ birth. Last week, we looked at Zechariah – the Captain. This week, we’re focusing on his son John the Baptist – the leadoff hitter.

John the Baptist had a tremendous ministry. He had a notable following and his own disciples. He could have easily hogged the spotlight. But instead this prophet understood his place in God’s ministry. Even though many asked him if he was the Messiah, he knew that he was the one of which Isaiah prophesied. “A voice calls out in the wilderness, prepare the way for the Lord.” So when John’s younger cousin Jesus came onto the scene, he pointed to Him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. I’m not worthy to even tie his sandal.” John the Baptist was like the leadoff batter. He knew what God called him to do and he did it faithfully.

In the game of baseball, one cannot talk about leadoff batters and leave out the name Rickey Henderson. This extremely fast leadoff batter made a name for himself getting on base and advancing to scoring position. His speed and prowess on the basepaths brought his team two world championships during his hall of fame career. Even though he was the twelve-time American League stolen base champion tallying a whopping 1,406 career stolen bases, his most valuable team achievement was scoring 2,295 runs. The game of baseball has many components, but at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is crossing home plate.

In a sense, we are all like leadoff hitters, like John the Baptist. Many of us have vibrant and intricate ministries. Many people make a name for themselves by their work in churches, books they write, and ministries they lead. However, no matter how simple or detailed, small or large our work for God’s Kingdom, the most important perspective we must have is that our ultimate goal is to point people to Jesus. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:6, “I planted the church, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” Jesus is the power hitter. He takes our faithful efforts and makes them bear fruit.