Nothing Hurts More

NOTHING HURTS MORE than letting down your team. In the 1998 Nagano Olympics, Masahiko Harada redeemed his poor performance from the previous Games.

At the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics, the Japanese ski-jump team led the 120-meter event with one jump remaining. Harada, who soared 122 meters in his first run, needed 110 meters to clinch the gold for his country.

But when he landed, Harada’s effort measured just 97.5, the worst leap of anybody on the top eight teams. Japan fell to second place, and Germany claimed the gold.

Four years later, Harada appeared jinxed again. In the 90-meter individual competition, he led after the first jump but faltered on his second and dropped to fifth. Although Harada later captured bronze in the 120-meter individual event, the pain of performing poorly in his native country brought sadness to the constantly smiling athlete.

A final opportunity for redemption came in the 120-meter team competition. Once more, Harada’s first attempt, a paltry 79.5 meters, dropped the Japanese from first to fourth. But down to his last chance, Harada rallied.

Speeding down the runway like one of his country’s bullet trains, he sailed through the sky and landed at 137 meters. His leap tied the world record, and Japan’s final jumper clinched the gold for the team.

EXTRA < < < < < < < < < < < < < <

POINT Masahiko Harada redeemed himself by overcoming his poor jumps under pressure. His spectacular performance didn’t just keep the Japanese from losing—it caused them to win.

Unlike Harada, many people never experience redemption. Redemption involves regaining something lost, fulfilling a promise, or compensating for an action. Sometimes we can’t redeem ourselves. If our debt is too great, someone else must help us.

That’s the way it is with the debt of sin. We could never make up for all the poor decisions we make. No matter how good we are, it’s impossible to make ourselves righteous. But Jesus came to redeem us.

His perfect life, his death on the cross, and his victory over the grave allow us to know him and live with him forever in heaven.

GOAL! Think of examples of redemption. You might include a kicker making a winning field goal after missing an extra point. Thank God for Jesus, our Redeemer.