Red Rover, Red Rover, send Brett right over!
You remember that primitive, unapologetically painful test of valor, grit, and power? This was not a game for the faint of heart. I have seen numerous closeline-ings and near knockouts from this absolutely stupid contest!
The rules are very simple. Two teams line up facing each other, some distance apart, all holding hands in a single line. One team will chant, “Red Rover, Red Rover, send ‘a kid’s name’ right over.” The ‘called-out’ individual then runs full force in between any two opponents on the other team trying to bull rush and break through their hand-lock. If the player makes it through the fence, he or she may return to their side. If they are unsuccessful, however, they must join that team. The winning team is the one with the fewest concussions and the most people on their side at the end! It’s glorious!!!
The history of this game is really a bit of a mystery, however, several sources point to a late 19th century origin in Great Britain. Some citations mentioned Viking invasions and others speak of a boat reference. I guess we will never really know how this beloved character development activity got started. (It’s a shame we don’t see this more in kids these days!)
There’s a Greek word in scripture that has a little bit of a Red Rover feel, EKKLESIA (ek-lay-see-uh). It literally means: the called-out ones. It is translated as the CHURCH and what we think of as the BODY of BELIEVERS.
The first time we see it, Jesus is speaking to one of his disciples. It’s somewhat interesting because we discover here how Peter got this nickname (the ROCK). Dewayne Johnson is not the original. Jesus asks his disciples who people are saying he is – what’s the word on the street. Several responses are given but then Jesus asks for a personal perspective and Simon Peter gives a better answer, the right answer.
After this, Jesus calls this man, Simon, by a different name, and then says “on (you – Peter, this ROCK) I am going to build my church, EKKLESIA.” (Matt 16:13-19) He then adds a rather peculiar qualification. “And the gates of hell will NOT prevail against it.” (Matt 16:18)
Jesus has just setup the first and most epic game of Red Rover in the history of playground games. Peter and the team of believers are going up against the “gates of Hell” which looks a lot like what the opposing team is to a small scared and timid little kid who gets called out to run forward and attempt to break through the lines.
Jesus declares that Peter and his team will be victorious in busting the locks and latches, bars and beams of the darkest place on earth.
WHY THIS? What’s it mean?
There is another rule often implemented with Red Rover and that is if you break through the line of the enemy, you get to bring someone back with you!!! So, Peter, the other disciples, and all the future ‘called-out ones’ have victory in Jesus to BREAK THROUGH the GATES of HELL AND to bring others back others from the depths of darkness, the place of the dead where there is no life.
So, if you are a believer, it’s time to get charged up and go full speed ahead. The gates of Hell cannot hold you if you are running in the name and power of Jesus Christ.
But, if you are lost, in darkness, lonely, and living in despair, and do not have the peace of Christ in you from a personal relationship with Jesus, then know that someone is RUNNING into the line of fire FOR YOU, to BRING YOU BACK. You can trust that Jesus has a heck of a team coming for you!
#RedRover
#CalledOut
#FunAndGames
#RestoringWholenessOfLife
Brett
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