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In 490 BC – just before the advent of cell phones and Skype – legend reports that a Greek solider was tasked with relaying crucial information: his comrades had just won an important battle and he had been entrusted with relaying the good news to his countrymen.
Little did he know that delivering a message would be more dangerous than fighting a battle.
In the heyday of the Persian Empire, under the leadership of King Darius I, Persian forces sailed across the Aegean Sea and attempted a bold attack on Greek soil near the sea port of Marathon. There to meet Darius’ huge force was a heavily outnumbered Athenian army.
It was a relatively short battle, but a violent one. The rag tag Athenians launched an unbelievable offensive against the Persian invaders killing many and driving the remaining men back into the sea. The day had been won by the home team, and in a big way!
Now, the Athenian army needed to get word of the victory back to Athens.
As legend tells, they chose their champion runner, a brave soldier by the name of Pheidippides. Leaving the scene of the battle, he crossed the 26.4 miles between Marathon and Athens without stopping. When he reached the capital, he heralded his good news to the officials and citizens and then collapsed and died.
Christians are not so different from that runner two and a half millennia ago.
We have good news of victory. Our God has sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus did just that, was buried, and was then raised to life again! Jesus overcame death and the grave!
Our countrymen need to hear the news of victory. Like the citizens of Athens desperately awaiting news from the battlefield, those around us long for news, as well. They need to know the truth.
We must take the good news of victory to them without delay. We can’t let anyone or anything deter us from delivering the good news to them. Their lives depend on the good news of Christ’s victory.
We must be willing to lose our lives in the delivery of the good news. Supposedly, it cost Pheidippides his life to deliver his message. Are we willing to deliver Jesus’ good news, even at that expense?
Resource’s Origin:
The Dubious Origins of the Marathon by F. J. Frost. American Journal of Ancient History, 1979, Pages 159-163.
Topics Illustrated Include:
Easter
Evangelism
Good News
Legend
Mission
Preaching
Purpose
Victory
War
(Resource cataloged by David R Smith)
