no greater love

[fire-rescue]

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. john 15:13

First thing that comes to mind on this verse is the sacrifice jesus made by laying down his life so we may have life everlasting with him in eternity. Some scriptures are not open to interpretation. God speaks alot about love and we please him when we walk in love. Loving him as well as others here on this earth with us. We see this verse used alot in firefighting pictures and poems. As a firefighter emt myself i like this verse. Some do literally lay down their lives for others. Military and ems. Giving the ultimate sacrifice to save another life. Im a volunteer fireman. I get no paycheck to put myself in harms way. I put in countless hours in training and responding to calls at 3 am or right as i sit down to a family meal. I dont drink but when would i. I never go off duty because the pager could ring any minute of any day. This scripture to me also says to lay down one time. To put yourself aside for someone else with no expectation of repayment or even a thank you sometimes. We measure our life in time. Time at work to pay bills, time with family, time to relax etc. Our time is an offering. I joyfully offer my time and energy to be used of god to help others and serve god by giving in love. This is just a few of my thoughts and what this verse means to me. But i think this is a verse that should speak to us all.

 

[crossnote]

God's love is truly sacrificial.

 

[pickles]

What a simple and perfect solution.
We all set aside ourselves, for the sake of others, serving others and we would want to be served.
Really causes one to stop and think about it all, and what life would be if we did this in Jesus?

God bless
pickles

 

[followjja]

Jesus did die for his FRIENDS.

"You are my friends if you DO what I command you." John 15:14

"If you love me you will keep my commandments." John 14:15

Jesus did NOT die as a sacrifice. He gave his life as a ransom for MANY, not all. A ransom and a sacrifice are nearly opposites. Also:

"Whoever loves his life will lose it and whoever hates his life in this world willl keep it for eternal life." John 12:25

 

[fire-rescue]

Jesus is also called the lamb of god. Animal sacrifices were no longer needed after jesus. Yes he gave his life a ransom. Yes he layed down his life for us his friends. But he shed his blood to pay for our sin not his. That is a sacrifice in the sense of jewish animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sin. Today sacrifice is anything we give up to put into a greater purpose. We sacrifice individual time or money to help a cause. We sacrifice a vehicle to adf good parts to another vehicle. Sacrifice has lost some meaning in current times but when one dies to save another we say they sacrificed themselves to save another. This one lives because that one died. Did jesus not pray in the garden if possible let this cup pass from me if possible but let your wil be done not mine. Jesus was god that took on our flesh and was tempted and felt our feelings. He chose to lay down his life or sacrifice himsef to pay the debt of sin we can not pay. Its was not a sacrifice to save our life of this body but to save our spirits. I see what you are saying but he gave up his flesh for many because not all accept him. And he is not saying to hate life. He gave you life but dont love your life more than him. Dont love anything more than him.

 

[clarkthompson]

There is not sacrifice greater than the one Jesus gave by His death but the closest we could come would be to do the same for another.

 

[followjja]

Fire-rescue,

Jesus is NOT a lamb, he is the Good Shepherd/Good Pastor. Shepherd means pastor. See John ch 10
Jesus is not a shape-shifter; changing from a shepherd to the lowest member of the flock. He is the leader of the flock of sheep. The leader of the pack.