Imagine you were given the option of saving someone’s life by taking their place. Would you do it? Would you lay down your life for them?
If the person to be saved was a family member, perhaps we would more readily exchange places. Or we might agree if it was a friend—for Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). What if it were a stranger, or a casual acquaintance like the postman, barber, or petrol station attendant? Most people would not be willing to exchange places. But who would lay down his life if the man were an enemy? Probably no one. (One may in fact secretly rejoice that one’s enemy is going to get his just reward. Or, at best, mutter “tough luck” and remain indifferent.)
How about Jesus? Scripture tells us that it is rare that anyone would die for a good and righteous man. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:7–8). Christ died for the ungodly—even Barabbas, whose name means “son of a father”; a generic name that can be applied to every one of us. We all have sinned and become ungodly. Jesus did much more than die for family or friends. He died for the ungodly, for His enemies; and Scripture says that human beings have a mind that makes them enemies of God (Colossians 1:21). Jesus did not merely die for one enemy named Barabbas, but for the whole Barabbas race. He exchanged His place for all our fatal places.
That cross was not just for Barabbas, but for Everyman. It was your cross and mine. Jesus took your place and mine. We should forever be thankful to the One who laid down His life for each of us. Life should be lived in worshipful gratitude to the Lamb of God who, on His own accord, took our place.
Often, we tend to overestimate our love for Jesus. Jesus told His disciples “You are my friends” (John 15:14), just after declaring that a true friend would lay down his life for his friends. Jesus demonstrated His friendship by dying not just for His friends, but also His worst enemies. He now asks us, “Are you my friend? Will you lay down your life for me?”
Peter confidently declared he would do so. Jesus, knowing Peter’s weak, impulsive ways, asked him, “Will you really lay down your life for me?” (13:37–38). Subsequent failure helped Peter to step towards maturity and be restored to a new level of discipleship (21:15–19).
Will we lay down our lives for Jesus? The early martyrs said “yes” with their lives. Later, the desert monks said “yes” when they gave up everything to follow Jesus. Later still, missionaries said “yes” when they left security and home to sail to distant lands to preach the gospel. Today we face the same challenge in our daily lives—in our homes, workplaces, churches, and neighbourhoods. It calls for the death of self and the display of love that is willing to lay down life (making costly and painful sacrifices) for family, friends, strangers, and even enemies.
Jesus taught us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44) and His follower Paul was willing to exchange (if it were possible) blessings for curses for the sake of his fellow Jews (Romans 9:3). The way of the cross is indeed paved with such self-giving love—found in Christ who wants to live in us.
Consider this:
Would you be willing to lay down your life to save someone else? Go through a list of family, friends, acquaintances, fellow Christians, and enemies. For whom among these would you be willing to die? Why? Why not the others?
Excerpted and adapted from Apprenticed to Jesus: Learning from Him, Living like Him by Robert M. Solomon. © 2014 by Robert M. Solomon. Used by permission of Armour Publishing. All rights reserved.
Related Resources:
The Power of the Cross. Examine the impact of the crucifixion of Jesus on the centurion at the cross. Find insights to help you truly know Jesus through the power of His sacrifice. Find out more here.
