Recently, I’ve been thinking about running a marathon.

Actually, I haven’t been thinking that I would run a marathon–I’ve been thinking about other people who do so. Actually, in our church we have two young moms who are training for the 26 mile 385 yard race. They have already run the half marathon and are training to run it all.

Do you know how the marathon received its name and how it began?

The concept goes back to a battle between the Greeks and the Persians in 490 BC. Persia, under Darius I (mentioned in Ezra and Daniel), attacked Greece at the seacoast town of Marathon. Eventually, the Athenians won by making a fantastic march to engage in the battle. That’s history. The rest is legend.

The legend says that a man named Pheidippides ran the 25 miles from Marathon to Athens and shouted: “We were victorious” (the Greek word for victory is nike). Then, he died from his run. That’s basically why I’m not thinking about running the marathon.

When the modern Olympics began again in 1896, Athens hosted the games. In order to hype the games, they promoted a run from Marathon to Athens. It became the highlight of the games.

Today, thousands of people run marathons. Presumably, they all proclaim victory at the end.

That’s what our Lord did for us. He gave His all and gave us the victory. “After offering one sacrifice for sins forever, [He] sat down at the right hand of God. He is now waiting until His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:12-14).

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

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