While playing, children use a shorthand language of their own, with words and phrases that refer to events hundreds of years in the past.
London Bridge is Falling Down dates to the 16th century and is literally about a rickety bridge in long-ago London. On playgrounds today, arms are raised, and little bodies run underneath, hoping not to get captured by the falling bridge.
Ring Around the Rosie? It’s all about the bubonic plague, or the Black Death, that spread throughout Europe in the 14th century.
Red Rover is a game of taunts played between two teams. If a player, picked at random, cannot break the other team’s line, he or she is “captured” by the opposing team. Since Røver is a Norwegian word for “robber,” some people think this game originated in conflicts between the early British and Viking raiders.
Yet, what about when the games are winding to a close? Perhaps it’s time to change sides, we want to give in, or the game has been mastered, and those still in play need to be notified.
Olly, olly, oxen free is our nonsensical catchphrase.
While playing hide and seek, the winner calls out, “Olly, olly, oxen free,” meaning all the other gamers can come out, because there is a champion. It’s time to change sides. It’s someone else’s turn to be it.
Jesus recognized the concept behind this childhood phrase, even if he didn’t know the actual words. In Mark 8:31 he calls out, “Olly, olly, oxen free!” He plainly says, “I am going to be killed, and after three days, I will rise again.”
Olly, olly, oxen free. The game is winding down. Sides are changing, because the game has been mastered, and I am notifying you that things will be different.
To Jesus, the resurrection was never in doubt. He told his disciples it would happen. He had cried out his victory call. Olly, olly, oxen free! The game is over, and I’ve won!
When we struggle with God’s promises, do we claim the victory with our shouts of joy? Do we jump and cheer, yelling, Olly, olly, oxen free, the game is over? Do we let the world know we are the winners, because the Bible tells us so?
If we trust Jesus’ words, we will. He claimed the victory before the end of the game. Why? He knew the score, even before the final quarter wrapped up.
Olly, olly, oxen free!
We need to yell it at the top of our voices! We are home free, and we need to let the world know!
We are already victors. We simply need to claim it.
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