I wasn’t watching football when Johnny Unitas, Otto Graham, Terry Bradshaw or Joe Montana were in their prime, but I know they are all-time greats.
I remember how amazing John Elway, Dan Marino, and Jim Kelly were, and that Brett Favre impressively played forever as he racked up incredible stats.
Then Peyton Manning came along and became one of the most decorated quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL. During his final seasons, it seemed like he was setting records left and right.
Now, Tom Brady and Drew Brees are still playing at an extremely high level as they break all-time passing records and move ahead of the great Hall-of-Fame quarterbacks that came before them. Last night, Brees passed Favre and then Manning to become the NFL’s career passing yardage leader.
As sports fans, we hold the previous generations of quarterbacks in high regard and know they laid a foundation that each era followed suit in building upon. Quarterbacks today are putting up greater numbers than previous ones, and we’ll continue seeing records shockingly broken.
It’s wild to think that players today will put up greater numbers than Joe Montana, but the league has changed and opportunities are different.
As we think about this concept from a Biblical perspective, it’s crazy to think what Jesus said His people would do after His earthly ministry ended. Before He went to the cross, He told His disciples this:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12 - ESV).
We know that when Jesus was here on earth, He performed miracles, changed lives, and revealed God’s power and glory. It’s amazing that all these years later, His followers have continued the work, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to save people and bring them to Jesus. We’ve been entrusted to play an important role in growing God’s Kingdom.
Of course, we're not greater than Him, but we’ve been able to build on each generation before us and have a greater opportunity to reach people for Him and through Him.
Our advanced technology has a far-reaching impact on masses of people scattered in countries throughout the world. Jesus’ ministry started in a concentrated area almost two thousand years ago, but His disciples have been extensively expanding His message ever since then.
Today, let's allow the challenge in John 14:11-14 (in the Message paraphrase) to make us excited about “breaking records” as we do the will and work of God here on earth:
“Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can’t believe that, believe what you see—these works. The person who trusts Me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I, on My way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing.
"You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it. That’s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I’ll do.”
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for allowing me to be Your disciple. I pray I will do great things with You and for You as I follow Your will. I know You want to transform hearts and lives and I want to be a part of that. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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