Since my grandchildren participate in a lot of sports, I have watched more sporting events than I ever would have imagined. The seasons sometimes run together but generally go from baseball, soccer, softball, and track to football and, now, wrestling, before starting again. And, of course, the eyes now are beginning to focus on Hershey and the gold that may await. The PIAA site describes it this way: “This prestigious event showcases the finest high school wrestlers across Pennsylvania, competing for glory and recognition. The schedule for the championships is packed with intense matches, thrilling moments, and outstanding displays of athleticism.”

Each match will produce one winner and one loser. Each rival will use his or her own strategy. Moves and counter moves such as arm bars, half nelsons, scissor holds, and many more come out in a continuous flow.

Each wrestler, competing with intensity, is hoping to win, especially with a pin. Moves and countermoves produce takedowns, escapes, and reversals. Each wrestler is working with all his or her knowledge and strength in order to control the other.

As I watch and imagine myself in a particular hold, I almost cringe as I associate pain with the stretching of muscles in the match.

Perhaps no greater wrestling match ever took place than the one between Jesus and Satan, the Tempter, in the wilderness. Though not a traditional match, it was a match nonetheless. We often reflect on Christ’s forty-day journey into the wilderness during our period of Lent, which began this past Ash Wednesday. The wilderness Christ journeyed into featured deep canyons and rugged terrain with rocks bare and jagged and blistering in the heat. Sharp precipices crisscrossed that seemingly lifeless landscape. Receiving less than two inches of rain a year, it is still an inhospitable place.

Into that foreboding place Christ went by Himself to be with His Father. After fasting for forty days, Satan approached Christ to tempt Him. The Bible records three temptations. The first one tells us that Satan tempted Christ to turn stones into bread as he appealed to the physical. Jesus replied with a quote from Deuteronomy. Satan used a different approach as he tempted Christ again. He tempted Christ to prove that He was God’s son as he went to the spiritual side. Satan even used a passage from the Psalms. Again, Christ resisted by quoting another passage. The third recorded temptation appealed to ego and vanity as Satan offered Christ the world. Christ resisted as He again quoted from Deuteronomy. Christ was victorious using God’s word.

All three quotations Christ used come from the address Moses made to the people of Israel before they entered into Canaan. Moses reminded them, “God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life” (Deuteronomy 6:1-2 NIV).

That promise remains. When you find yourself in a wrestling match, spiritual, emotional, or physical, remember Christ is there. Perhaps in some ways wrestling coaches are like Christ. They are there beside the mat. They do not do the wrestling but are there to encourage and instruct. At the end, they welcome the wrestlers, whether victorious or defeated, and help them prepare for the next match. Our Lord does the same. With our Christ, we can have “intense matches, thrilling moments, and outstanding displays of athleticism” as we achieve our own victories.

Max Furman, Pastor of Antes Fort-Oriole Global Methodist Churches, 1409 Gap Road, Allenwood