The Sunday before we left for California, we watched the final day of the PGA Championship. Phil Mickelson, at 50 years of age was leading the field. Winning would make him the oldest golfer to win a major event. By the 16th hole it was looking good, and because he and his closest opponent, Brooks Koepka, were the last ones on the course, the fans followed them all the way through the day.
I do not know if you can imagine what that looked like. When Mickelson and Koepka left for Hole 2, they took all the Hole 1 fans with them; then when they left for Hole 3 they had Holes 1&2 fans following. By the time they reached the 18th Hole the size of the crowd was enormous and began to press in on Michelson who now looked like he would be the winner.
They were so thick they had to have security around Michelson. At one point a fan pressed in close and tried to jump on his shoulder. At times it looked like he would be swallowed up. At the 18th green they had to wait for Koepka (who did get swallowed up) to make his way out of the crowd and onto the green, all the while the crowds are screaming for Michelson.
I thought about all the people around Michelson. It has been a while since people were allowed into a golfing event after COVID-19 shut everything down. They were rooting for the underdog. It is as if they were finding hope in his win and they could celebrate vicariously with him.
As I watched all that unfold, I thought about Jesus and the people that pressed in around Him. Luke tells us in Chapter 5, verses 1-3, that the crowd as He was standing by Lake Gennesaret “was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s word”. He had to get in a boat that belonged to Simon Peter and push away from shore just to be able to teach.
The crowds that pressed in around Jesus were looking for hope. They prayed that this homeless preacher who often defied the religious leaders would have the hope their hearts yearned for.
Unlike Michelson who could only provide a momentary thrill, Jesus, Savior, LORD, provides hope, salvation, eternal life, and an inheritance in glory. Praise His Glorious Name!
