With Easter in the review and the Corona virus still in full view, the word Sacrifice has been on my mind lately.
We just celebrated Easter at home for the first time since we’ve had kids and before then, I can’t even remember when we last missed the celebration of our living savior. That’s what Easter is, celebrating a savior that is no longer dead -because he did die. But is now alive- because he was resurrected.
The sacrifice of Jesus is a true story we tell throughout the year in Sunday school and through various events like VBS. We want our kids to understand what the word sacrifice means- willing to give up, surrender.
The dictionary has a few different ways to see this word:
- The offering of animal, plant or human life or of some material possession to a diety, as in propitiation or homage.
- The person, animal or thing offered
- To surrender or give up, or permit injury or disadvantage to, for the sake of something else.
Jesus encompasses all these things. He willingly offered himself, knowing the price he would pay, and went through with it all anyway. Not because he was just as much God as man and wasn’t afraid; he was. Not because he wouldn’t feel pain; he did. But because of his love for us, everyone, even those we don’t like.
That’s an amazing thing and something we as humans have a hard time grasping.
In our world today, we have more and more people willing to sacrifice for others. They are giving up their families, their health, their hearts and even their lives in order to do the job they do.
Why?
Because they aren’t afraid? Trust me, they are. Because they are just doing their job? Well, maybe.
I hope you all see what I see when I think about healthcare workers, firefighters, police and paramedics who are battling the front lines of something they can’t really see, can’t fight off.
To go to the scene of a crime, wondering if someone there is infected, but they go anyway. To transport a hurting or injured person and wonder if they will become infected, but they do it anyway. Going to work each day, knowing you will be around those infected, yet you go to work anyway.
Sacrifice is an amazing thing. It’s hard for some of us to understand why they do that job. But, like Genesis says, we are made in God’s image. Sacrifice is deeply engrained in who we are. Some of us choose to see it and embrace it, some ignore and push it away.
As so many sacrifice to help the sick and hurting, I would ask you to sacrifice as well.
Do you need to go out? Do you need to travel? Do you need to take more than what’s in your hands?
Sacrifice. The acceptance of who you are and what you’re required to do- for others and maybe even for yourself.
Who are you thinking of when you sacrifice?
