A Half Time Talk

I love Football, watching it, playing it and even just talking about it. As the particular game I was watching went into half time, I began my half time festivities. You know what I’m talking about here, snacks, drinks and the call of nature.

I got back to my seat with my provisions and realized it was still half time, the game hadn’t restarted yet. As I listened to the sports announcers talk about what needs to be done and why this or that might work. One of them said, “Well, Dan. I’m sure (insert football team here) is getting an earful in the locker room as we speak.”

My mind thought on to what may be talking about or doing in the locker room at half time. The objective of a half-time talk is to tell the team what they may not want to hear. There may be yelling, screaming or maybe pats on the back and joy. Or maybe the things they really need to hear in order to succeed in the 2nd half.

In Mark 14, Jesus is telling his disciples some things they don’t want to hear. Team Jesus (God’s Football Team) has been doing really good. Jesus performed many miracles, healed hundreds of people and even raised Lazarus from the dead.

And then they entered into Jerusalem where the crowd goes wild. “Team Jesus” has gone into the locker room with a 20 point lead… and victory is assured. Yet, Jesus knows this illusion of success will soon disappear… and so will His team. He knows He needs to tell His team things they don’t want to hear… things He needs to tell them - they need to hear if they’re ever going to overcome the tragedy and despair of the next few days.

On at least 3 separate occasions Jesus specifically told the disciples about the coming days. The disciples were never quite willing to accept this idea because this wasn’t how the game was supposed to be played.
So now, here they are at half-time. They’re about to face the hardest challenge they’ll ever encounter.

They’re about to see their Master arrested, beaten, condemned and crucified. And ultimately, they are all going to fail Him. Not just Judas but every single disciple is going to run away and hide. They’re going to be afraid that the same forces that will arrest and crucify Jesus will come for them.

Its half time, and they’re about to go into a part of the game they’re not prepared to handle. Its half time, and they’re about to face forces of darkness that’ll overwhelm and fill them with despair. It’s half time, and it’s at this point that Jesus sees the need to give them “the talk”.

Jesus gave this half-time talk because He wanted His disciples to understand: the crucifixion was the victory over the opposing team. The crucifixion was the entire reason they had come out onto the field to begin with. If Jesus hadn’t gone to the cross for our sins they would have lost. And we would have lost.

His crucifixion was not an accident. Jesus didn’t get caught by surprise.

It was the GAME PLAN!

We all must go to Jesus for that Half time talk. You may not like what you hear; you may think you don’t have the ability or energy for victory.

Guess what though, “He Knows YOU can win!” You’re on the winning team!

Let’s run out onto the field already victorious.

Half times over… for now!