Sabbath Thought – Dying for a Friend

In a modernzage seemingly obsessed with ego-centric activities, we can still be touched by the selfless sacrifice of others. The firefighter who runs into a burning building. The police officer that puts himself in harm’s way. The average man or woman on the street that helps someone in need. Even more powerful than these examples, are the examples of soldiers dying in battle for the success of their comrades.

Some years ago, my family and I had traveled to visit Roxanne’s family, and on the trip back to home we stopped at a rest area to eat and let the twins run around a bit. As they were running around, I noticed a military style plaque that had a brief but moving account of a young, local man who had died in during military service in Vietnam. He died by throwing himself on a grenade in order to save the other members of his squad. 

As much as we humanly are grieved when someone dies, especially in something as unnecessarily as war, we are touched at the very core of our being when we hear of a soldier deliberately sacrificing his life for his fellow soldiers. I suspect this young soldier had a fraction of a second to decide to yield his life so others might live. I thought to myself, “Would I do the same thing?” Would any of us lay down our life for a friend (John 15:13) – would we become a sacrifice for someone else?

One of the lessons of this time of year is that we need to keep working on removing sin from our life. The whole chapter of Romans 5 is a timely read. Christ died for us (Romans 5:10), and He was willing to be our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7), to take our place, to be our substitute in payment for our sins. 

During the Civil War here in the U.S., it was possible to avoid being drafting into military even as it is today. Medical exemptions were possible. Men who were sons of dependent older parents or were in other ways the sole support of families could be exempted. Most objectionable to critics, however, were exemptions based on wealth. Men could pay substitutes to serve in their places or could pay the government commutation money. The price in either case was $300 (the average worker made about $600 a year). During the Civil War, many could pay for a substitute to go into battle for them. Christ has taken our place in this battle against sin and has paid the penalty for us. He died for us as a friend (John 15:15).

Christ’s sinless obedience to God’s law allows us to become righteous before God (Romans 5:19). Since we have then had our sin payment made for us, we are to no longer live in sin (ch. 6:1-2). By reviewing ourselves annually at Passover and during the Days of Unleavened Bread, we are reminded that God is in this with us for the long term. Coming out of sin is not a one-shot deal. It is a lifelong process of examining ourselves, seeing sin for what it is and then working with God to put that sin out of our lives.

Christ died for us. Will we then present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1)?

I wish you a profitable and value filled Sabbath,

Dan Dowd

4 April, 2026