Seth Carter

The reach of an event like the FIFA World Cup to capture and hold the attention of the planet for as long as it does is outstanding. In total viewership it’s comparable to the Olympics, but it’s significantly different in that the World Cup is a single event! The vastness of the tournament creates many opportunities for interesting stories and upsets, new heroes and underdog stories.

Among them this year was the performance of a goalkeeper named Josimar José Évora Dias. Josimar, one of the top 10 oldest players in the tournament, came on the scene playing for a team that had never been to a World Cup. This team rallied around Josimar to hold one of the greatest teams, Spain — who would eventually go on to win the trophy — to a 0-0 match! Again and again they held other teams to tied scores before finally being eliminated.

If you were watching the World Cup you might not have known this player by Josimar but as “Vozinha," a nickname he picked up at a young age playing in his home country of Cape Verde. Raised by his grandparents in this small island nation, he would be teased by older kids about running home to his grandmother when he got hurt. The name in Portuguese means “little granny,” but it eventually stuck. This year, as this 40-year-old played in his first World Cup, he blocked almost everything that highly competitive teams and players sent his way.

I love stories like this! It puts something difficult, seemingly impossible, within reach and maybe even gives me some hope that I can still accomplish something worthwhile if I don’t give up.

The story of Jesus should give us the most hope! Primarily because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, willingly chose to “love me and give Himself up for me,” Paul's words in Galatians 2:20. 

Jesus is the Son of God, yes, but his humanity is important for us to understand as well! Jesus was not “well-born” as some would look for it. He didn’t come to a wealthy or prestigious family. He was not necessarily connected to the right influential people. Isaiah even prophetically wrote about the Messiah that he would not be “stately in form or majesty,” nor have fine “appearance that we should be attracted to Him.” (Isaiah 53) Perfect underdog.

The death of Jesus showed us that God requires a perfect sacrifice to satisfy the penalty of sin, which he states is eternal separation from his presence. He was willing to trade places with us, take our sin on himself and take our penalty, while granting us his score … a perfect record … and he was truly the only one who could! He accomplished the impossible … a perfect, sinless life! 

The life of Jesus modeled what flawless submission and devotion look like to the father. Jesus has given all to accomplish something we couldn’t on our own. We don’t cease to be human when we die. We won’t get our wings and turn into angels on a cloud. We won’t become gods over a planet or realm. For those who have faith in this “Underdog” will be resurrected humans with the perfect score of Jesus, worshipping and enjoying our creator forever.

Vozinha had the love and support of his grandma and his family, but you can have the love and support of the creator of the universe. Vozinha had 10 teammates on the pitch with him, but you can have the crucified, risen underdog. Vozinha worked his hardest to keep their opponents from scoring, but there is no amount of work you can do to earn a perfect score and there is no extended time! You only win by substituting his strength for yours. Again, in Galatians 2:20, Paul wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

When you are inspired by your favorite “underdog” story, remember who you are. Don’t try to earn anything for eternity; trust that Jesus Christ has done the heavy lifting, received the perfect score, and experience the underdog story of all time.

John 20:31 says, "but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name."

(Seth Carter is director of Campus Ventures in Powell.)