John 6:15-21
It was fourth and ten with twenty two seconds left in the game. With the Steelers stuck on their own 40 yard line and behind by one point, Coach Noll called for a last ditch effort pass play to Pearson. Quarterback Bradshaw, under pressure, instead threw a pass towards Fuqua. The ball took an odd backward bounce after striking a defensive player and just before hitting the ground, was scooped up by Franco Harris, who ran it down the field, missing a few tackles, and got a touchdown. The score gave the Steelers a lead, allowing them to win their first playoff game in 40 years. The play has been called one of the greatest plays in football and has been dubbed, "The Immaculate Reception."
With mere seconds left, the fate of the entire game rested on that one important catch. If one little thing had happened differently—a slightly different angle in the bounce, players in slightly different spots, a second's difference in timing—that ball wouldn't have been caught, and the game would have been lost. The play couldn't have been planned or scripted, but that is why it is considered to be perfect or free from flaw: If Harris' fingers had been a split second later, the ball would have been on the ground and the play dead. He wouldn't have received the ball, and it would have been lost.
It had been a long day on the mountain. Jesus had been teaching the multitudes and had also shown the power of God by feeding the great many people with one boy's lunch. It was evening and Jesus had gone back to the mountain to pray alone. The disciples were in a boat, heading across the sea to Capernaum. It was a rough sea, and the winds were blowing wildly. They were out three or four miles and saw a figure walking on the water, appearing through the storm as it approached the boat. They were rightfully afraid. But then they heard His voice: "It is I; do not be afraid." It was Jesus. And what we hear next is a play that is far more important and perfect than Franco's catch: "Then they willingly received Him into the boat." They laid aside their fear and their doubts; they didn't miss; they didn't reach out a split second too late; they didn't fumble and drop the precious promises of God. When they heard the voice of their Savior, they reached out with their open hearts and received Him, both willingly and readily. God had sent His Son to save the lost people in the world. He had made a way to be free from sin and the snares of the world and the devil. He had made a way for a new life, full of the Spirit, empowered to live for God and to do His work. He offered love, encouragement, provision, protection, blessings, leading and direction, rebuke and loving correction, peace, companionship, and healing. They heard His voice as they were tossed about on a raging sea. They reached out and caught that ball. They received the Lord as their own. Won't you lay aside your fear and doubt and receive all that God has for you? Don't delay!
~ Joel Warren
