Dying for life

Dying for life

Bible:Hebrews 11:32-40

There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they
might gain an even better resurrection (V.35).

Reading

Some men can’t be bullied or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.” If you’ve ever watched the Batman movie The Dark Knight, you’ll probably recognise that quote straightaway! It’s a great line, describing the bad guy of the movie: the Joker. But I can’t help thinking it might apply to real life as well. What makes terrorists hate the world so much that they’ll kill random people in the street or at a pop concert? What makes suicide bombers blow themselves up, taking as many innocent people as possible with them? Some extremists call what they do “martyrdom”. The writer of Hebrews has a different take on what being a martyr (being killed because of your beliefs, rather than taking your own life) is all about. He
writes about people who were killed because they loved Jesus: “These were all commended for their faith” (HEBREWS 11:39) because they refused “to turn from God” (V.35 NLT) and preferred death to rejecting their Saviour. Jesus is the supreme example of martyrdom. He stayed silent and allowed Himself to go through the horror of crucifixion (ISAIAH 53:7; MATTHEW 26:63). This is true martyrdom—a selfless act that leads to life. Jesus didn’t die to bring death (like a terrorist) but to bring life to all who would trust Him (1 CORINTHIANS 15:54-57)! One Bible teacher wrote: “Should we be most amazed at the wickedness of humans, who are capable of such awful cruelties, or at the excellence of God’s grace, that is able to hold us up faithfully against such cruelties, and to carry us safely through all?”

OUR SACRIFICES ARE TO COPY JESUS’: THEY SHOULD
BRING LIFE AND LOVE TO OTHERS.

YouTh Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries