The Fifth Sunday of Easter - May 3, 2026
The M3 (Monday Morning Mail)
Be Like Mike? No, Like Stephen
I began yesterday’s sermon by playing the 1992 Gatorade commercial, Be Like Mike, in which the opening clip shows Michael Jordan doing an amazing reverse layup while switching hands in midair. Noteworthy is the height of his head, nearly the height of the rim. Moves like these came to define part of Michael Jordan’ legacy as a basketball player. That legacy still inspires young players, albeit to a lesser extent than for those who grew up watching him. The next few video clips show young players trying to emulate Michael Jordan, trying their best to make a layup special. None come close to what Jordan does in the opening clip. Michael Jordan changed the game of basketball with his high-flying, graceful, acrobatic moves.
Yet, most of the time of the commercial focues on Michael Jordan interacting with young players, emphasizing his relationship with him. The last clip shows him playing with a young toddler in a gentle and loving way. In this way the commercial moves from emulating him as a basketball player to emulating him as a person. Most people cannot do his basketball moves but everyone can be interactive and gentle with the people in their lives.
Stephen is chosen as one of seven to help in the distribution of food to the gentile widows of the earth Christian community. The others were Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenides, and Nicolaus. We learn quickly that Stephen stood out because he proclaimed convincingly the arrival of Jesus! I highlighted three aspects of his ministry: 1) He was chosen; 2) He did what was needed and 3) He looked to Christ. He did not put himself forward, but the Lord chose him to accomplish his work through him. His work was not esteemed, but stigmatized, as caring for widows was considered a trivial task. Hazel W. Perkin writes in the Baker Encylopedia of the Bible, “Legally the widow was ignored for purposes of inheritance, and if her husband died prematurely, this was considered a judgment for the life he had led, and she became an object of reproach, partly for her inability to prevent his untimely death.” Stephen did what was needed! He did so because the Lord had claimed him. How he dies provides the perfect template for every follow of Jesus: “59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out,, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:59–60, ESV). Beautiful.
Be like Mike? Maybe one day in the new creation! Be like Stephen—now!