Suffering as Sacrifice

As I write, it’s Memorial Day. On Sunday night, as we often do, we watched the National Memorial Day Concert on PBS. As usual, I was deeply moved by the stories of sacrifice, while at the same time sensing rising anger at a political class who often, too easily, sends our youth into questionable conflicts that demand their sacrifice.

We all suffer at times, and that comes with simply living, but not all suffering is sacrificial. The distinction is often made by the preposition that follows “suffering.” Are we suffering because life is difficult? Or are we willingly suffering for a purpose beyond ourselves?

As followers of Jesus, we are rooted in sacrifice. The suffering (Passion) of Jesus was the result of His willing sacrifice. Before His ministry began, John the Baptist cried out, “Behold the Lamb of God…” (John 1:29). Although sacrificial lambs don’t choose to die, Jesus made the choice of sacrifice, and set His face to fulfill that destiny. Many of His followers sacrificed their lives for Him and His purposes, in following the Lamb of God.

However, not all sacrifices made are in dying. Paul, who would be martyred, tells Roman disciples, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship (Romans 12:1 NIV).” True worship comes in sacrificial living, and if called upon, dying for our Lord.

2 Timothy contains the last words we have that Paul wrote before he gave the last full measure of his devotion. In it, he calls on Timothy to, “Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:3 NIV).” The Messiah Jesus makes such soldier suffering, sacrificial. Did Timothy do so? Later, after Paul’s sacrificial death, the unknown author of Hebrews tells his flock, whom he challenges to suffer with Christ, “I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you (Hebrews 13:23 NIV).” Yes, Timothy became a sacrificial soldier.

We honor sacrifice! Whether or not we wear a uniform, we, too, are called to be good soldiers of Christ Jesus, in life and in death. Jesus was willing to suffer in obedience to His Abba, and for our sake, and now we are called to be willing to stand for Him and in behalf of others, whatever that means for us. The resurrection assures us that if we are called to give our lives, we will not have died in vain.

Tim Kelley