Eyes of the World
The eyes of the world (an average of about 127.7 million pairs of them) were on Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on Sunday, as the Kansas City Chiefs attempted to win a third straight championship. The Philadelphia Eagles had other plans, however, and cruised to a dominating 40-22 win, led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, who was named MVP of the game. Even the lopsided result did not prevent a record-setting audience from tuning in across a variety of platforms and reaching an estimated 135.7 million people at peak viewership.
Analysis and eternal perspective: In many ways, the Super Bowl is the biggest single sporting event in the world. While other events—the World Cup, the Olympics, and others—draw more viewership over a longer period of time, the Super Bowl is known for attracting the most attention for a single contest. As a result, it commands astonishing advertising revenue—a 30-second spot cost nearly $8 million this year—and the multi-day event outshines the actual game in many ways (as evidenced by the viewership numbers in a non-competitive game).
Even many non-football fans tune in for the game (it is certainly true in our house, as it is the one time of the year the rest of the family has at least some interest in following the game with me), which only adds to the appeal for marketers.
As a Jesus follower, there are some important takeaways here. While your football loyalty might be with the Eagles, the Chiefs, or elsewhere (da Bears!), the ultimate object of your attention should always be your Savior (Heb. 12:2). A spectacle event like the Super Bowl is a good opportunity to give thanks for the reality that your identity is not found in the outcome of a sporting event or even a personal accomplishment, but rather in the unfathomable gift of being a child of the King.
We should also consider how to effectively call the eyes of the world to a fixation on the Savior. Marketers spend millions to attract consumers to their product. You and I have the free gift of eternal life to offer! How are we creatively setting that beautiful gift before those who need it? Take a moment today to consider how you might be particularly equipped to offer the greatest gift of all to those around you. The return on investment is infinitely better than 30 seconds for $8 million!
The following article originally appeared in Thann’s “The Equipped” Weekly Newsletter. For more information on Thann’s weekly email, click here.