September 20, 2023
Sacrificing For Others
“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:12-13 (NASB)
When I was in the U.S. Army, I was stationed in Kaiserslautern Germany. One winter we were in annual field training in Grafenwöhr. It was training in the event the United States entered a war in Europe. It was also the middle of winter. A foot of freshly covered snow awaited us. It was a beautiful place to visit, but not without heating. When we arrived, we began to dig two-man foxholes for our perimeter. I was placed with a friend of mine whom I had known for about six months. As it got dark, the temperature plummeted. It began to snow again. Everyone was freezing. After a few hours, my friend got closer. He told me he was freezing as he shook all over. He was from Louisiana. Our unit had warmup tents, but we weren’t allowed to use them except when permitted. We closed up our foxhole as much as we could to deter the wind from getting in. As it got colder, we lit a small can of Sterno Heating Fuel (we packed). It was like heaven on earth for the short time it burned. It seemed the Sterno didn’t even like the cold. The rest of the night, both he and I stood with our backs to each other to try to remain warm. Our feet felt as if they were slowly freezing as we moved them constantly. We stayed warm those nights by staying close. Without the heat from our bodies, we probably would have had frostbite or frozen. Sacrifice for each other’s survival was mandatory. I was so glad to have someone who would sacrifice by staying close those nights as the temperatures dropped (Proverbs 18:24).
“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” The reason Jesus can give this commandment is He (and He only) shows sacrificial love for mankind. His love is to be the standard for which all are to love others. Calvin says, “Since it is proper that we regulate our life according to the commandment of Christ, it is necessary, first of all, that we should understand what it is that he wills or commands. He now therefore repeats what he had formerly said, that it is his will, above all things, that believers should cherish mutual love among themselves. True, the love and reverence for God come first in order, but as the true proof of it is love toward our neighbors, he dwells chiefly on this point.”[1] This verse also parallels Jesus' statement in John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this, all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” When Jesus ascended to heaven, the disciples didn’t know their fates, but their lives too would be laid down for those who would hear the gospel message. They would emulate the example left for them by their Savior. Little did they know how true this would be in their own lives. They obeyed Christ’s command. Why? Because they loved Him.
That week of being in the cold was miserable. There were many nights I didn’t even sleep for fear of freezing. In the morning we were allowed to go into the warming tent. Many men left their feet near the heat so long that the bottom of their boots began to melt. They didn’t care. One soldier told the commander he would go to the brig before going back out. He wasn’t willing to sacrifice any more time. Funny how adversity brings out the true disciple of Christ...
[1] Calvin, J., & Pringle, W. (2010). Commentary on the Gospel according to John (Vol. 2, pp. 115–116). Logos Bible Software.