This Sunday afternoon, every Rams and Patriots player will stand in front of their locker and put on their own jersey before heading out onto the field.
The jersey they wear during the Super Bowl signifies which team they play for, the last name they represent, and a unique number that identifies them.
Jerseys and especially a player’s number are a big deal in sports. Players are recognized by them and they also carry meaning for an individual.
The Athletic has two articles explaining the origins of specific uniform numbers for each team in the Super Bowl. Players have to pick a number based on availability and then the one they connect with. Players then become known for wearing a certain number.
A few of the interesting takeaways for the Patriots players include wide receiver, Chris Hogan, wearing #15 and January "15" being his wife’s birthday.
Cornerback, Stephon Gilmore, gives this explanation for wearing #24: “Champ Bailey (who wore 24) is my favorite player. (Darrelle) Revis. Ty Law. So it looked good and some great players wore it and I always wanted to wear it.”
Wide receiver, Phillip Dorsett, landed on #13 for this reason: "…my favorite number is four. So one plus three. I was like ‘All right I’ll take 13.’”
A couple of the Rams said the following about their numbers:
Quarterback, Jared Goff: “When I was like seven years old, my dad was like, ‘Choose No. 16. That was Joe Montana,’ and I was like, ‘All right. Who’s that? Oh, OK, the quarterback of the 49ers.’ And that was the extent of it.”
Offensive tackle, Andrew Whitworth: “I wore 76 in college and when I got to the Bengals, Levi Jones was No. 76. So the next option that I liked was 77 and that’s kind of how I got it. It sort of becomes part of you.”
As we think about players putting on their uniforms with numbers that identify them, let’s unpack what the Bible encourages us to put on.
Although we don't have a jersey hanging in a Super Bowl locker, we do make daily decisions to put on what really matters. We’re not identified by the number on our uniform, but when people see us, what are we known for? We have the opportunity to represent Jesus well based on what we choose to put on, as "it sort of becomes part of you."
Here are a few takeaways from what the Bible says about how we clothe ourselves:
Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV) tells us to "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
Romans 13:14 (NLT) tells us, "Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires."
1 Peter 5:5 (ESV) says, "Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'”
Today, let’s find our identity in Christ and represent Him as we put on “our jersey” of humility, love, and patience.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray I’d be aware of Your presence and recognize the power in me that allows me to be humble and loving. I choose to walk with You, covered in Your grace. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
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