B, Epiphany 6 – 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 “A One Horse Race”

If I was to gamble on a horse race, I imagine the most perfect race to bet on would be one in which I had "million to one" odds on the nag in chute number one. This horse would not need to be anything special, only alive and able to trek the distance around the race track. The perfect race would have me gaze across in confidence at chutes two to twenty with glee knowing my horse was going to turn one dollar into a million. It wouldn't be a million to one change, rather a sure thing; the prize would be as good as in the bank.

I also imagine there would be others there, with me, with their money on the nag on the nose. In fact, everyone at the race would have their hopes on this old Pal pony doing the lap and coming first. They would only need bet on one race and one horse to all take home one prize. Would it be a gamble? Not in the slightest!

Saint Paul says to the church in Corinth…

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:24–27 ESV)

There can be only one! How can you be sure which one? Paul seems to suggest it's not a horse or someone else running the race, but you running for the million to one chance. He says, "run that you may obtain it." The question is, "How?"

Each of us knows deep within ourselves there can only be one winner. We all imagine there are others around who run much more fluently than we do. Me! Run? That's like flogging a dead horse! Or as Paul puts it, running aimlessly or punching the air. Running the race would surly see me miss the mark and forfeit the prize. I would perish running after the perishable wreath! How much more would I perish running to win the eternal infinite imperishable prize?

Paul goes on to speak about discipline and control. After all he is the coach, preaching Corinth and us into the winning position. But if there can only be one, does he coach so he comes second, does he preach so he might perish? There can only be one; only one receives the prize! What is this discipline and control that allows one to run focused, that lets one hit the mark and beat the boxer?

What's needed here is the discipline and control for "One for all" to be "All for One". That is Jesus for all so all might win the one prize. Running the race of life by one's self is running aimlessly or beating the air! Perishable people need one who is imperishable to win the imperishable crown of life.

The discipline needed to win the prize is faith! Belief in our Triune One God! After all do we not believe in ONE God the Father Almighty? One Lord Jesus Christ! The only One of the Father, being one substance with the Father!

Are we not continually gathered by the Holy Spirit who speaks through the one substance of the Father and the Son, who binds us together as one holy church, catholic and apostolic, that is eternally gathered around Christ; gathered by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the apostles' witness to Jesus' life, death, resurrection and ascension!

We hear Jesus' high priestly prayer from John 17…

I do not ask for these only (that is, the apostolic witnesses and believers God gave to him during his walk to the cross), but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (John 17:20–23 ESV)

Paul then writing to the church in Ephesus says…

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. (Ephesians 4:4–7 ESV)

It appears to be a "One" horse race! This One was left for dead on a cross outside Jerusalem. It seemed he couldn't even run the race in which we constantly struggle and lose; failing to win the perishable prizes let alone the imperishable one we're called to pursue!

But there are other horses in the stalls vying for us to gamble our lives! Horses that promise to make us winners but rather are beasts of burden, and imaginable apparitions of our undisciplined and out of control hearts and minds! These horses flanked with glitz and colour promise much but will break those who place their trust in them.

On the other hand the good old horse called Grace, is winning us the race. She has won us the prize, and that's Jesus Christ's race to the cross and risen life. It is Jesus who measures us the discipline and self-control (through the Holy Spirit) to wager our lives on him and his death and his resurrection – all for One, One for all! Jesus Christ is no gamble; his grace is sufficient for you!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV)

Amen.