The Champion

The champion is a popular theme in books and movies. The champion is someone who acts on behalf of a whole group of people to overcome opposition, to win the day and to bring peace.

There’s a current movie example of this theme as Alice faces Jabberwocky in ‘Alice in Wonderland’. It is her unlikely and unwanted destiny to face the dreaded creature on behalf of the White Queen and the forces of good and thus to bring a fairytale ending of sweetness and peace.

The champion theme is also present in the Bible. Think of Samson and his single-handed defeats of the Philistines (Jud 15-16). Note however whose champion he is. Samson is nothing but an immoral braggart and oaf without God’s choice to restrain his vices, set his destiny and empower him for action (Jud 13:4-5, 24-25; 15:14; 16:20). God made a hero our of Samson.

David is another champion sent from God to save his people. This is seen in his many battles against the Philistines and especially in his defeat of Goliath (1 Sam 17). David did not defeat Goliath through of the triumph of his faith but was the means of the triumph of the Lord. Thus he discarded the weapons of earthly might and went forth to slay and thus demonstrate that the battle and the victory is the Lord’s (eg 1 Sam 17:38-40; 46-47).

Jesus can be interpreted through this theme. He is the supreme champion from God. He was a priestly champion as we are seeing in the morning series from Hebrews (Hebs 7-10). As priest, he could go when none had gone before (the heavenly sanctuary) and make the one effective sacrifice that ended the era of defective priests offering defective sacrifices. He is the champion who disarmed the rulers and authorities and nailed our sin-debt to his cross where it is forever harmless (Col 2:13-15). He is the ‘author’ or ‘founder’ of our faith – the trailblazer of the path to God (Heb 12:2).

Alice is a typical fairytale champion, without flaws or failure. Earth’s champions are flawed with imperfections and eventually overcome by feebleness or a superior foe. This was true alsp for Samson and David. It is true by the champions we may see today in sport, politics, religion and other roles.

Jesus is neither a fairytale nor a flawed champion. He is the son of God who was like us in every way except sin (Heb 2:17-18; 4:15). As such he is the only, and the last, champion that any of us every need. Let’s enjoy the fantasy champions in movies and books, but let’s put our faith in heaven’s champion and keep it there.