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Mention the name "Bob Bishop" in the fast paced, ever changing world of professional
football and it is more than likely the response will be ‘Bob Who?
Bob Bishop became a Manchester United scout in the early 1950s and his territory was mainly
in Northern Ireland. He spent most of his time pitch side, watching, searching, analyzing
– seeking out the best footballing talent to invest in. Almost every Irish schoolboy
of promise was assessed by him.
And perhaps in an office like this Bishop reviewed his notes and made choices and decisions
about players. And it is a decision about a certain 15 year old school boy from East
Belfast that Bob Bishop will be remembered for. This boy had been down to his local club
a few times but had been written off by the coaches as being too small. But Bob Bishop
was convinced otherwise and wasn’t willing to let him out of his grasp.
He was so impressed by him that he sent this famous message to the manager of Manchester
United, Matt Busby.
Bishop was well known for spotting potential before anyone else. And he did everything
in his power to get Best signed for Manchester United.
George Best went on to become one of the greatest football players the world has ever seen!
He was a sensational discovery!
In the Bible Jesus tells a story about discovering and investing in something of immense value.
As far as I know they didn’t have football in those days and Jesus talks about a different
sort of 'scout'; a businessman searching for precious pearls to invest in.
Aren't we all a bit like this businessman, searching for the most precious things life
has to offer?
It may be that we want to play or coach at the highest level; to get a really satisfying
job; to make plenty of money; to find true love; to have security. And these are things
worth wanting and pursuing.
Yet Jesus has some thought-provoking, even outrageous, comments about finding the greatest
treasures in life. He has the audacity to say that finding Him is the greatest discovery
anyone can make - that He's worth more than anything else we could have!
Isn't this outrageous? How can someone say this? Such a claim needs further investigation:
who is this man?
Well, we need only read the historical eye-witness accounts about Jesus to see that there hasn't
been anyone else like him on this earth.
He gave the blind sight, healed the sick and made the lame walk. He was able to calm storms
and walk on water. He even brought a man back from the dead.
He brought hope to those in despair. He offered answers to the most important questions about
life: who are we? why are we here? what happens after we die?
Yet it gets even more remarkable - He said that he is God in human form, the creator
who made the world, who made us and who loves us. He said he came to meet us and invite
us to friendship with him. To live life with him. How sensational is that!
Finally, the historical accounts tell us that at the prime of life he was killed but three
days later came back to life. He’s done something no-one else can. He defeated death.
And why? Because he came to offer us something no one else can: life that lasts beyond death.
That’s why Jesus says that discovering him is a bit like a merchant finding precious
stones or like Bob Bishop discovering the unique talent of George Best, or like winning
a gold medal, or landing the dream job and making a fortune... but it’s far greater
that all these things...
... Jesus says that finding him is the greatest discovery we can ever make.