When He Is Lifted Up | Christ's Church

by Dale Reeves

Story Pastor

Just before midnight this past Monday evening, January 20, 2025, I posted this message on social media:

Many took it as an endorsement of our 47^th President Donald J. Trump, as he was inaugurated in Washington D.C. on Monday. Others simply saw the “O-H” message toward the end, and responded with an “I-O.” Admittedly, I am not a die-hard Ohio State football fan, as many of my friends are, though I am a fan, and I definitely cheer for them in the college football playoffs. This past Monday night the Ohio State Buckeyes completed their redemption story after defeating Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and then the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the national championship game 34-23. It was a good day to take in all the activity on our TV as Karen and I sat inside our home with a cozy fire crackling while our country celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Whether or not you’re a Trump or Ohio State Buckeye supporter, in my estimation it was a great day to be a Jesus follower, as the name of Christ was lifted up on numerous occasions all day long. And, that’s why I wore my “Jesus Won” T-shirt at church this past Sunday . . . because regardless of the outcome of either the 2024 presidential election or the college football playoffs, Jesus defeated Satan by his work on the cross two thousand years ago, and that was our true “Liberation Day!” (Thanks for the photo from Sunday, Fabi!)

Our Lord said this in the Gospel of John, “And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” The apostle John adds this commentary: “He said this to indicate how he was going to die” (John 12:32, 33, NLT).

Christ Lifted Up in Washington, D.C.

As guests were arriving for the 60^th inauguration ceremony, held in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda due to the bitter cold outside, we heard the University of Nebraska-Lincoln combined chorus sing a beautiful musical prelude a cappella. Then we were treated to the United States Marine Band playing two hymns, “For the Beauty of the Earth,” and “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” the latter which comes straight out of the Bible: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22 ,23, NIV).

As President Trump was sworn in as our 47^th president by Chief Justice John Roberts, his wife Melania held two Bibles. One was a revised standard version that Trump’s mother gave him to mark his Sunday Church Primary School graduation in 1955, and the other was the Lincoln Bible, which was first used during that president’s 1861 inauguration. Vice President J.D. Vance, born in Middletown, Ohio, chose the Bible his wife Usha held as he was sworn in. He took the oath of office using a family Bible that belonged to his late maternal great-grandmother, who raised him as his mother struggled with addiction. His “Mamaw” gave Vance the Bible on the day he left home for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in 2003.

Another highlight of the ceremony included Carrie Underwood singing the National Anthem a cappella when the soundtrack failed to come on. Underwood said, “I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing and be a small part of this historic event. I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”

The United States Naval Academy Glee Club walked down the center aisle and sang, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” which gave me goose bumps. Earlier in the ceremony Franklin Graham offered a prayer for the president and vice president that included these words: “We thank You for Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and his wife, Usha, and their young family. May he be a strength to President Trump, to stand beside him. To hold up his arms, like Aaron held up the arms of Moses in the midst of battle. . . . Father, we take this moment to stand still. To remember the great things You have done for this nation. Thank You for the protection, the bounty, the freedoms that we so enjoy. We remember to keep our eyes fixed on You.”

And, then at the conclusion of the ceremony, several members of the clergy offered benedictions, but it was former drug user and gang member, Lorenzo Sewell, senior pastor at the Detroit-based 180 Church, who took the whole nation to church. If you missed his amazing prayer, check it out here.

I loved his reference to Trump’s “millimeter miracle,” and that he closed with some powerful words of Martin Luther King Jr. . . . Let Freedom Ring! “Free at last, free at last, thank you, God Almighty, we are free at last!”

Christ Lifted Up in Atlanta, Georgia

Then, later on Monday evening, I watched as the Ohio State Buckeyes battled the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the college football championship in Atlanta, Georgia. Both schools have remarkable stories of redemption in the midst of coping with adversity. It has been well-documented that after the Buckeyes lost to the Michigan Wolverines for the fourth time in a row, there were some dark days in Columbus, Ohio. Many were calling for Coach Ryan Day to be fired. He had to pull his three kids out of school because of the ridicule they were facing—some of it even from teachers!

Buckeye running back, TreVeyon Henderson, who is at the center of a spiritual revival that swept across the campus and through the football team this fall, said this, “We had some honest conversations, man. The biggest thing is we came together as a team.” After an unsportsmanlike penalty called on TreVeyon in the Cotton Bowl vs. the Texas Longhorns, he said, “I spent some time with the Lord on the sideline, asking for his forgiveness, helping me to repent, to turn away, because that’s not the man I want to be.” Soon after that, TreVeyon gave credit to his teammates for helping him to focus on Jesus, after which he broke free for a 75-yard-touchdown run. Listen in as he continues to glorify God through his play on the field and his words off the field.

Prior to claiming the college football championship trophy, quarterback Will Howard, offensive MVP of the game, said, “We got to trust in the Lord and lean on Him no matter what, through the ups and the downs. I tried to just get into my Bible and pray a little bit. Just come back to the Lord and say, ‘I need You!’”

Coach Ryan Day observed,

“It has been amazing to watch this team grow spiritually. . . . We have Bible studies and reflections that we have done for a long time, but now we are seeing our players lead them; I might walk in a room and I’ll see a bunch of guys gathered together having a Bible study. The impact they have made in our community and even nationally is significant, and I’m proud of where those guys have gone in their journey.”

Marcus Freeman has done a tremendous job in his third year as the Notre Dame head coach. In his postgame interviews throughout the twelve-team college football playoff, Freeman constantly attributed his team’s success to their individual selflessness, each player putting the other players in front of their own desires—a Christlike quality to be sure.

After the Irish exhibited a no-quit attitude in the second half that left them falling short at the end of the game, Notre Dame’s amazing quarterback Riley Leonard commented, “I wrote Proverbs 27:17 on my hand. Our team and Ohio State were the two teams who praised Jesus Christ the most and I think we strengthened each other in our faith . . . I’m happy to see godly men come out on top no matter what the circumstance is. I’m happy to praise Jesus in the lowest of lows.”

And, then just before going to bed Monday night, I watched ESPN Sportscenter as Scott Van Pelt and Rece Davis reflected on how the two teams’ faith in their God and in one another played a pivotal role in their successful seasons. You can see the whole interview here.

Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson has this Bible verse printed on his eyeblack: Romans 3:22, which says, “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are” (NLT).

Whether it is the President of the United States, a very flawed individual like you and me; or a former gang member and drug user turned inspiring pastor; or football players giving glory on the gridiron and on their college campuses; God uses imperfect individuals to lift high the name of Jesus. And, that’s why this past Monday was such a good day for me. May we all, in spite of our shortcomings, continue to lift high the name of Jesus!

“And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”

—Jesus Christ