A Willing Sacrifice
If that would have been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice. Hebrews 9:26
This week our community has grieved the tragic loss of a man and woman. Three children who were with them survived the boating accident due mainly to a young man who was with a friend fishing and the sacrificial act of the mother. My husband is the interim pastor at the church where the man’s mother is a member. As he spoke with her this week, she told a story of how her son, along with his girlfriend had reconnected with a local church. They had gone out Saturday to enjoy a day of fishing.
The spring rains had caused the rivers and canals to swell and what was usually a placid area of water had become a place of strong currents. In the canal there was a spillway made of a concrete wall which now had water rushing over it. The man’s boat had come too close to the rushing current and was pulled in. It capsized and as it was pulled over the wall he was hit in the head. The woman caught her little girl and her boys. The children were wearing life jackets. The mother was not. The young man was heading back to his camp site where he had left some gear and as he rounded a bend he saw the over turned boat and people shouting in the water.
He turned his boat to help and not realizing the force of the current was pulled over the same wall and his boat capsized as well. He was able to grab hold of a rope attached to his boat and he hung on. He and the woman talked as they drifted in the water. They were driven by the current which had created a strong whirlpool and they couldn’t get out. At some point, the little girl was pulled under but the woman without a life jacket kept her boys close until the young man could reach out and take hold of them. They started scrambling up his back and on top of his shoulders to the bottom of the capsized boat. They drifted toward the wall where the current was strongest and the young man turned to see if they would be pulled under as he turned his head back the woman had disappeared. The little girl popped up in the current and rescuers were able to pluck her from the water. The end of this tragic story is that all three children survived and the mom’s body has still to be recovered.
As my husband related the above story, one thought kept crossing my mind. The thought of the willing sacrifice of a young man and most of all the willing sacrifice of a mother. He acted out selfless adrenaline but still out of his character. He headed to rescue not go for help but placed himself in danger in order to help. He willingly risk his life. She treaded water with her boys for 1o minutes, in a strong current, with no life jacket.
Though I have never met this woman, I have a picture of her in my mind. Treading water and holding her boys. What were last words? Purposeful, determined to keep them living. A mother’s heart. Sacrificial. Selfless. A human picture of the greatest willful sacrifice.
This day we remember the willful ONE who freely gave his life. We call it Good Friday. Jesus willingly sacrificed His life to remove our sin. This day nails were driven in His hands and his feet. He agonized as the cross was lifted and set in place. He suffered as his life drained from him. “He spoke, “It is finished!” and he released his spirit.” (John 19:30) Do you see it? He released his spirit. He purposely died for you and me. He willingly sacrificed His life in order that you and I might have life! Oh would you and I put away all pretense and all religious familiarity and grasp the significance of the verse. He released his spirit. He took upon His shoulders the SIN of the world. Past, present and future sin. The penalty paid. Never would it need to be paid again!
If it had not been for Jesus, the penalty and consequence for our sin would be eternal death but when He paid the required penalty for sin Jesus conquered death and rose from the dead to offer you and I eternal life. Life with purpose!
So as we celebrate this Resurrection Sunday, let’s remember the willing sacrifice of our Savior. Let us remember our best human sacrifices our reminders and pictures of the greatest willing sacrifice! Let’s make peace with those we need to make peace. Let us remember that our days are numbered and let us live them with purpose and gratitude. Let us live with intentional selflessness. Let us serve with an abandon to the ONE who gave us eternal life and CALLS us to serve others.
What does the sacrifice of Jesus mean to you. Join me in the here and or in the safe place of the forum. Remember you will need to log in with your username and password to comment in our secure & safe forum. Thankful He plucked me out and called me His girl!
Praying for you,
love you,
Diane
P.S. We want you to take advantage of the first CJ4H
free retreat for ministry wives. You pay travel expenses. Very limited space. 10 spots First of 3 this year. Only 3 spots left. Click on the link and tell us why you need to come to the retreat.