On April 6, 1896, the first modern day Olympics opened in Athens, Greece, after a break of 1500 years. You will find varying accounts but there were 240-280 athletes from 13 or 14 countries who participated in 43 events. The games were organized by the International Olympic Committee, created by Pierre de Coubertin. First place received a silver medal and second a copper medal. The IOC has now retroactively awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals as the custom came to be. So with that in mind, at the first modern Olympiad, the United States won the most gold medals at 11, but the Greeks won the most overall at 47. The games were so successful that they continued every four years with the exception of 1916 (World War I) and 1940 and 1944 (World War II).
While I was doing the research for this post I came across a reference to an athlete from the original Olympics period, the 207th Olympiad in 47 AD. Melankomas of Caria won the boxing event. Legend has it that he won without dealing a single blow and without being hit. He trained day and night and his endurance was such that it is said he could hold up his arms to defend himself and dodge blows for two days straight until the opponent simply wore himself out and could no longer fight. Obviously there were no time limits or rounds in those days. A good discussion of the man and the history of Greek boxing in general can be found on WordPress, "The Arms Man" and "The Greatest Boxer of All Time." You will also find more varying information about exactly when he boxed, for even that information is a little unsettled.
After reading this piece I found myself reciting Isaiah 53: He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth, Isa 53:7. Jesus won the battle with Satan not by striking him down but by taking our punishment upon himself; not by fighting back but by rising from the dead. The "blow" Jesus dealt to Satan was a sinless life and the resurrection from the dead.
Melankomas was not the first boxer by that name in the ancient Olympics. The first was his father, and he simply took up his father's occupation and perfected it. Jesus asks the same of his disciples. "Follow me," he said again and again. And "Turn the other cheek," "Love your enemies," "Reconcile with your brother," be willing to "take wrong" and "be defrauded" for the kingdom's sake. Again and again we are taught not to strike a blow, but to take one without striking back, to give more than people ask of us and to share with the needy. And if we do, we will find ourselves winning the race just like he did, never striking out, never taking revenge, but giving good to all.
Our Olympiad occurs every day. Let's fight as he did, as Paul did, and win the gold.
Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain. And every man that strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they [do it] to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air: but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected 1 Cor 9:24-27.
Dene Ward
While I was doing the research for this post I came across a reference to an athlete from the original Olympics period, the 207th Olympiad in 47 AD. Melankomas of Caria won the boxing event. Legend has it that he won without dealing a single blow and without being hit. He trained day and night and his endurance was such that it is said he could hold up his arms to defend himself and dodge blows for two days straight until the opponent simply wore himself out and could no longer fight. Obviously there were no time limits or rounds in those days. A good discussion of the man and the history of Greek boxing in general can be found on WordPress, "The Arms Man" and "The Greatest Boxer of All Time." You will also find more varying information about exactly when he boxed, for even that information is a little unsettled.
After reading this piece I found myself reciting Isaiah 53: He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth, Isa 53:7. Jesus won the battle with Satan not by striking him down but by taking our punishment upon himself; not by fighting back but by rising from the dead. The "blow" Jesus dealt to Satan was a sinless life and the resurrection from the dead.
Melankomas was not the first boxer by that name in the ancient Olympics. The first was his father, and he simply took up his father's occupation and perfected it. Jesus asks the same of his disciples. "Follow me," he said again and again. And "Turn the other cheek," "Love your enemies," "Reconcile with your brother," be willing to "take wrong" and "be defrauded" for the kingdom's sake. Again and again we are taught not to strike a blow, but to take one without striking back, to give more than people ask of us and to share with the needy. And if we do, we will find ourselves winning the race just like he did, never striking out, never taking revenge, but giving good to all.
Our Olympiad occurs every day. Let's fight as he did, as Paul did, and win the gold.
Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain. And every man that strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they [do it] to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air: but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected 1 Cor 9:24-27.
Dene Ward
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