'Jesus Is Better than Super Bowl,' Testifies Seattle Seahawks Christian Players Russell Wilson, Okung, Maragos, Gresham, Coach Seto

By Lauren Leigh Noske
Seattle Seahawks Interview with Mark Driscoll
Seattle Seahawks Interview with Mark Driscoll

Pastor Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill Church interviewed four Seattle Seahawks players and one of their coaches earlier this month about their love for Jesus Christ in the midst of Super Bowl hype. Russell Wilson, Russell Okung, Chris Maragos, Clint Gresham, and Coach Rocky Seto hope to leverage their influence in the National Football League (NFL) for the glory of Jesus Christ, and were asked by Pastor Mark to give quick responses to the question, "Who's Jesus?"

"Jesus is everything," says the Seahawks' offensive tackle Russell Okung. "He'll meet you right where you're at. It's free," the NFL player says of the gift of forgiveness, paid for by Jesus' blood on the cross and given to those who would humble their hearts before the Lord and receive Christ as Savior. "You don't have to work for it," Okung says of God's forgiveness and love - "He gives it to us because He loves us and He's full of grace."

Quarterback Russell Wilson knows that he wouldn't be where he is today without having Jesus Christ in his life. He is overwhelmed by the Lord's steady companionship and love, through the worst and best of times - "We want somebody to comfort us and to be there for us ... that's Jesus. Jesus has always been there, He'll never leave you, never forsake you," he says.

Having reached the "pinnacle" of success in the world's eyes as an NFL player has helped Seattle's free safety Chris Maragos to see just how valuable Jesus is - everything else is empty, he says. "To be so humble as to come to earth as a mere man and to live the life that He lived ... to go on the cross and to die for my sin .... everyone's sin ... that's everything," says Maragos. He has found joy, peace, and love in Christ, and is amazed that God would do such a thing for him.

Seahawks Coach Rocky Seto put it plainly - "Jesus is the greatest treasure in the universe," he says. "It's not like you give up your life and then you get something worse ... He gave us everything."

While he hopes the Seahawks will win the Super Bowl, Seto knows that true satisfaction is only found in Christ. "Jesus is better than anything ... even better than the Super Bowl, better than an NFL career," he says. "Who knows what's going to happen, but if we were to win the Super Bowl, [we would] tell everyone that Jesus is still better."

If the Seahawks do win the Super Bowl, Seto hopes they will get the opportunity to share the Gospel with others - "I just can't wait to tell people. If that happens, God willing, we'll be able to tell people Jesus is way better, still." Everyone will wake up the day after the Super Bowl and life will be the same, he contends; but those who are in Christ will rejoice forever, win or lose.

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