Protecting the Blind Side
Gettysburg Presbyterian Church
Rev. Lou Nyiri
Acts 1: 6-11 / Colossians 3: 1-4
April 11, 2010
Let’s play a little name recognition game which focuses
on some National Football League players.
If I say the name “Lawrence Taylor”, how many would know who I’m
talking about?
If I say the name, “Joe Theisman,” now how many would know who I’m
talking about?
If I say the name, “Michael Oher,” who knows who I’m talking
about?
Now, how do these men go together?
The first two, for those who don’t know, were involved in
a National Football League highlight film that neither ever wanted
to be in – especially Joe Theisman.
Theisman was quarterback for the Washington Redskins and Taylor
was playing linebacker (I believe) for the New York Giants.
The play was designed to be one of trickery, wherby Theisman handed
the ball off to his running back, who when reaching the line of
scrimmage stopped, turned and tossed the ball back to Theisman
who was then going to throw it downfield for a completion to one
of his receivers.
It was a razzle-dazzle type play.
As Theisman sood in the pocket, looking downfield for an open receiver,
Taylor came rushing in from his left side – the side opposite
most quarterbacks throwing arm – and so as Theisman stood
poised, looking up field for an open receiver, he did not notice
Taylor barreling down on him from the left side – or what
has come to be known as “The Blind Side” for the majority
of football quarterbacks.
Taylor hit Theisman cleanly, the way Theisman went down though
caused so severe a break of his lower leg that it has come to be
known as “The Break” among sportscasters and other
sports aficionados.
If you’ve seen the video of this hit – you will never
forget it – as Theisman’s foot can be seen “flopping” around
seemingly held onto his body by merely the sock covering his foot.
To my knowledge, this was Theisman’s career ending injury
as he never took another snap in the NFL.
As a result of this play, the left tackle has come to be the second
highest paid position in the NFL behind that of only the quarterback
on a professional football team.
The reason being, this is the position responsible for protecting
and securing piece of mind for the quarterback to be fully present
in the game, focusing on the field ahead, knowing/trusting/secure
in the fact that the left tackle will make sure no one will enter
this blind side unblocked.
The left tackle’s job is to make sure the quarterback has
time to throw the ball.
The left tackle will even commit a penalty of holding a rushing
defender to ensure his quarterback is protected.
Left tackle is the position played by Michael Oher who was a first
round draft pick by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2009 NFL draft.
It is Michael Oher’s story upon which the movie The Blind
Side is based on.
If you’ve not seen the movie, you will want to put it on
your list as movies to see.
Disclaimer note: There are some scenes you may not want
your children to view so parents watch it first – though overall I highly
recommend it.
{9:30 worship – Here is what I’m talking about as far as how important the left tackle position is in football. In this scene from the movie The Blind Side we see as LeeAnne Tuohy – Michael’s “adoptive” mom – explain to him how important this position is and how Michael should play the position…show clip from The Blind Side}
The left tackle guards the quarterback’s “Blind Side.”
The left tackle frees the quarterback up to focus attention on
the play as it unfolds before him.
A quarterback trusts his left tackle to protect him.
If football were played in ancient times, the left tackle ancient
people might say, “would be seated at the left hand of the
quarterback” – meaning given the logistics of the
football game, and that the quarterback is right handed and cannot
see what is coming from his left side – the left tackle is
seated at the highest place of honor.
In our Apostles’ Creed we declare that “[Jesus] ascended
into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.”
Our texts this morning declare to us that
Seated at the right hand – isn’t about placement…
Seated at the right hand – is about position!
To sit “at” the right hand of another is to have the
place of highest honor.
This goes back to the time when warriors carried a shield in their
left hand and an offensive weapon in their right.
This made one particularly vulnerable to attack from the right,
and therefore every chieftain or king placed his most trusted warrior
at his right.
An aside – this is why in the wedding ceremony the groom and groomsmen stand where they do – on the right side of the bride. Men carried their weapon on their left hip – so it was easier to grab with their right hand and remove for battle. This way the groom could protect his bride-to-be on their wedding day. He could sweep her aside from an attack with his left hand, while preparing for battle with his right hand. Chivalry at its finest!
As a result, the custom evolved of having the most honored adviser
of a king sit at the right of the throne.
Similar customs continue to this day, when in many cultures it
is customary to seat the guest of honor at the right hand of the
host or hostess.
To “sit at the right hand” is therefore a sign of great
favor – of shared authority.
Seated at the right hand – isn’t about placement – it’s about position!
These are images of a king reigning in authority and power over
his kingdom.
Jesus, who died a criminal’s death, is now raised to the
position of victorious king and Lord.
Jesus resurrection from the dead, his ascension into heaven and
his sitting at the right hand of God are all the same triumphal
phase of Jesus’ mission as Messiah and Savior.
When our Apostles’ Creed affirms that Jesus now “is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,” it is affirming that he now shares in the Father’s power and authority.
It’s important here to remind ourselves what it means to
speak of God as “Almighty”:
John Calvin – one of our Presbyterian fathers explains:
“This is as if it were said that Christ was invested with lordship over
heaven and earth, and solemnly entered into possession of the government committed
to him – and that he not only entered into possession once for all, but
continues in it, until he shall come down on Judgment Day.”
In brief, the ascension is about Jesus’ victory.
His victory over sin – his victory over death – his
victory over all that would hold us down.
The one who in his resurrection conquered death now sits at the
very throne of God.
Not only that...because Jesus is there the evil that once held
us captive no longer has the power to do so.
If we once might have been inclined to fear not only the powers
of evil but also God, because as sinners we could not stand God’s
holiness, now we know otherwise, for, as Calvin says,
“Jesus Christ now ‘fills with grace and kindness the throne that
for miserable sinners would otherwise have been filled with dread.’”
The resurrection and the ascension remind us that someone is protecting our Blind Side!
We don’t have to be scared of life – we can live life.
We don’t have to be afraid of making the wrong choice time,
after time, after time…
we have One on our side who can breathe new life and inspiration
into tired souls!
we have one on our side who can bring resurrection into old, tired,
near death experiences!
The great news of resurrection and ascension is that this new
life can begin today when we simply say “yes” to God
who has already said “yes” to us.
In Jesus’ life, in Jesus’ death, in Jesus’ resurrection,
God has proclaimed to the world how important we are to God.
In Jesus’…
– the one who in the words of the author of the New Testament book Hebrews, “has
been tempted in every way as we are yet is without sin”
– the one who has been called, “the pioneer and perfecter of our
faith”
… in Jesus’ ascension and in Jesus’ taking a seat at the
right hand of God, God has proclaimed to the world that the one who sits there
is one who identifies with us because he has walked our walk, talked our talk
and overcome the human predicament of sin.
Because of our faith in him and the power of the promised Holy Spirit at work in our lives and the fact that the One who saved us now reigns in power and authority over us – so can we!
The ascension provides a direct link into the unique power of the gospel –
The two great overarching themes of the ascension, celebrate and define the very core of our faith:
Our congregational vitality and mission, our personal discipleship – both of these benefit from our knowledge of Ascension.
We don’t need to worry about what’s going to come
and hit us from the unprotected side – for Christ is our
left tackle – Chris is protecting our Blind side!
We don’t need to worry about how we’ll face tomorrow – because
in the words of modern day parlance, “Christ has our back!”
And that is the relationship that tells us who and whose we are – we are to focus on what that means for our lives – like the 1st Century Disciples…like the Colossian Christians, we are called to live empowered by the knowledge that our life is most fully revealed and found not in this world – rather our life is found in Christ!
When life bears down on us – like an unblocked linebacker – let us never forget that we have Jesus the Christ – watching out for our blind side – even taking a penalty to protect us – so that we can focus on what is unfolding in front of us – and in the protection of this knowledge we can make the right calls in our lives so that what transpires is a fulfilling life – for us and for those around us!
It’s not always going to be easy – and sometimes we
might take a hit or two!
Though because of our dedicated and competent left tackle – remember
they will not be career ending injuries!
Faithful people are only left alone when they are forgotten and
we have a Savior who never forgets – who never takes a time-out – who
never abandons us – in this life and the next!
And that is something we all can work into our game plans.
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