David, who oversees the work for “Fellowship of Christian Athletes” (FCA) in a major midwest city, sent me some reflections he wrote about Easter.

I think that they are so insightful, encouraging and challenging that I asked his permission to share his thoughts on my website.

David played football, and now invests his time and gifts working with, and discipling, athletes and athletic directors, hence the sports analogies.

Guest post by: DMelms@fca.org

“Dave, I’m reflecting on the heaviness and the celebration of this Easter weekend. Jesus was a leader who patiently poured into his team for 3+ years as it often felt like one step forward and two steps back. He washed His disciples’ feet in His final meal and “locker room speech” to the team. This would be the equivalent of washing an athlete’s feet right after an intense workout or game. Jesus loved them until the end.

Jesus knew they would fall asleep praying for Him when He needed them most. He knew they would scatter when adversity arrived leaving Jesus hanging out to dry. He knew they would largely stay in hiding when he was under a sham trial. The one who followed him would deny Him after promising it would never happen. 

Jesus innocently stared Pontius Pilate in the face and did not defend himself when Pilate had the professed power to release Him from this chaotic, unfair, painful mess. Jesus was okay being misunderstood which is an area I’m specifically trying to grow in right now as I put on Christ.

Jesus willingly put the team on His back as the cross was placed on His shoulders for this intended walk of shame. Jesus is the only one who truly can put the team on His back when it comes to spiritual transformation, hope, and renewed life in God. 

Jesus then WON. 

He came back. He defeated mortality. He defeated spiritual darkness. He defeated my sin (how I make God’s good gifts ultimate and cut Him out). He invites me to daily trust in His finished and perfect work admitting how much I desperately need Him and turning to Him.

He emerged from the empty tomb. 

We are now victors in Jesus. We are also more than conquerors over these things our resurrected Jesus defeated. We are no longer slaves to them but make them serve us by having them propel us closer to Jesus even in our stumbling journey.

The leadership parallels for us as we reflect on Jesus’ final days are many. We remain when sometimes it feels like others do not endure or have as much ownership as we wished. 

We genuinely serve our team or co-workers even if they at times may interpret it as a reason to take advantage of or ask for the bar to be lowered.

We invest in and hire those with long-term impact in mind, leading to Kingdom growth, when our name may never get recognized here on earth. However, the personal leadership parallels are minor compared to what this means for my heart and our hearts. I am the stubborn disciple who doesn’t seem to understand the Kingdom Jesus is ushering in when it’s right in front of my face each day. It’s embarrassing.

I am the one who promises I’ll never deny Him to only eat my words and be crushed by the self-reliant and prideful posture on top of the denial even though the zeal is real. I am the Israelites after being ushered out of hundreds of years in slavery by miraculous fashion who were prone to complain only because they got the same free meal each day instead of variety or they were unsure of the plan going forward. I am a saved sinner. 

Jesus inherited my sin and the sin of all people past, present, and future on Good Friday over 2000 years ago, while He had no sin of His own. We owe a debt we could not pay, and Jesus paid a debt He did not owe. It will go down as one of the worst business transactions ever, though the most extravagantly loving and radical marks of obedience to His Father’s will. He cried out “It is finished” on the cross which translates as “paid in full”. It was a cry of victory, not defeat. Jesus is the humble hero, the servant Savior, the King of Kings.

LORD, elevate our heart and deep awe of You this weekend and beyond for the sake of Your name.”