We Are Marshall is a film that shows the aftermath of the 1970 plane crash that killed 75 people: 37 football players on the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team, along with five coaches, two athletic trainers, the athletic director, 25 boosters, and a crew of five.

Matthew McConaughey stars as head coach Jack Lengyel, who rebuilds the program whose players needed to believe in the impossible. Here is a quote from the movie when McConaughey tries to get his players to look past their pain and see a better future.

“Today, I want to talk about our opponent this afternoon. They’re bigger, faster, stronger, more experienced, and on paper, they’re just better. And they know it, too. But I want to tell you something that they don’t know. They don’t know your heart. I do. I’ve seen it.”

John 11 – Proper Perspective

Perspective makes all the difference. While the Marshall team needed to believe in the impossible and how they could defeat their opponents, Jesus defeats the greatest enemy of all by raising Lazarus from the dead in chapter 11. The raising of Lazarus was His greatest miracle so far and the one that was the climactic miracle of the Lord’s early ministry. He emphasizes faith in John 11. There is some form of the word believe in at least eight accounts.

Perspective also brought a turning point in the lives of three groups of people Jesus sought to encourage: the Disciples (11:1-16), the sisters (11:17-40), and the Jews (11:41-57). If Jesus Christ could do nothing about death, then whatever else He did amount to nothing. As believers, we know that all our times of sorrow will eventually turn into joy because death has been defeated!

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete believe “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

Journaling helps you understand and respond to the Bible. As you journal, use the acronym HEAR to Highlight, Explain, Apply, and Respond to what you have read in the reading plan.

Bible Memory Verse – “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.” John 12:25 LSB

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