A Different Kind of Victory
Just 1% of women worldwide will ever complete a full marathon (26.2 miles) in their lives.
Last Sunday, March 22, Kim and I watched Bea reach this amazing goal at the Acea Run Rome The Marathon, where about 36,000 athletes from 166 countries took part. My “SW”—a special meaning just for Bea and me—fulfilled a lifelong dream and became part of that 1%.
The atmosphere was unforgettable. From the starting line to the family reunion area, and at the 10 km and 37 km marks where we cheered for her, the air was filled with chants, applause, and encouragement. Strangers cheered each other on, coming together to celebrate endurance, sacrifice, and determination. Witnessing this passion made me think about my recent reflections on Mark 11:1–11.
In that passage, Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey. The disciples and the crowd, full of anticipation, responded with enthusiasm. They laid garments and palm branches on the road and shouted “Hosanna,” a cry that means, “please save us.” They believed they were welcoming a Messiah who would overthrow Roman rule and set up an earthly kingdom.
But even in that powerful moment, they did not understand.
What happened next was not a political uprising, but the quiet start of God’s plan to save. The crowd looked at things through their own hopes, wanting freedom right away. But Jesus came to offer a deeper and more lasting freedom.
By riding a donkey instead of a war horse, Jesus changed the meaning of victory. His kingdom would not grow by force, but through humility, sacrifice, and love. The real struggle was not against Rome, but against sin and the brokenness in our hearts.
In the Growing Together curriculum reflection for Teachers, N. T. Wright captures the purpose behind Jesus’ actions with this quote: “When God wants to take charge of the world, He doesn’t send in the tanks. He sends in the poor and the meek.”
This season invites us to pause and listen again. God’s way of salvation, shown in Jesus, might not always be what we expect, but it is always better.
Let’s open our hearts to His Word and welcome the kind of victory that truly saves.
