Recently hubby and I were given last-minute tickets to a Seahawks game. Whoo-hoo!
I have never been to a Seahawks game before. It was an amazing experience to join in with thousands of fans all converging on the stadium! Thousands of people … all decked out in 12-Fan gear! Blue & green everywhere you looked! Jerseys, ballcaps, beanies, toboggans, jackets, scarves! We were 12’s!
In through the entrance gate … and up the massive stairs … people everywhere! Excitement was palpable! We were 12’s … and this was our stadium!
Hubby and I found our seats, and I sat in awe gazing out across the expansive stadium packed with fellow 12’s. We were united … we were “family.” In a current world where everyone is divided, about everything … here, we were all united. It was incredible!
Game time drew near … anticipation was high! The 12th Fan Flag was raised! … and the stadium roared to life with cheers of excitement! Kickoff started the game.
All across the stadium 12th Fan flags were proudly displayed. For this brief 4-hour time period we were all united as one … under the “12” Banner! We were 12’s! We cheered as one. When a play was close … we were all out of our seats and on our feet! When we scored a touchdown, we all high-fived each other in celebration … no matter that we didn’t know each other … we were family … we were 12’s!
And when it came to defense … our voices made a difference! I have known the fact that the 12 Fans are the loudest in the NFL, causing the most defensive false-starts of any team. It’s one thing to know this fact … it’s a completely different thing to actually be a part of it.
Our voices, all combined together, made a difference! We might be in the stands, but we mattered! We could actually “participate” in the game! With every false-start we contributed to, there was tremendous satisfaction! … and delight! We mattered! We could make a difference!
The entire experience was, for me, a great picture of Jesus as our Banner.
In a current world where everyone is divided, about everything … Christians are united under the banner of Jesus! We are family! Together we raise our hands in praise and worship … united under the banner of Jesus! When we make offensive progress, pushing back the gates of hell, we are “out of our seats and on our feet” … united as one … under the banner of Jesus! When we score a touchdown, and souls are saved as people come to saving faith in Christ … we rejoice and celebrate! … even if we don’t know each other … because we are family!
We are Jesus-followers … united as one under the banner of Jesus!
Jesus is our banner!
Exodus 17:15 – “Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner (Yahweh-Nissi).”
Isaiah 11:10 – “In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.”
Psalm 20:5 – “We will shout for joy when You are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.”
John 12:32 – “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.”
