Jesus ... the greatest sacrifice?

Simon

This will probably sound controversial to anyone who is still religiously inclined so I apologies upfront and do not mean any offence by it. It's just my 'pondering'.

I was thinking about all the times that I heard form the platform and read in the WatchTower that Jesus made the greatest sacrifice ever in history by giving his life in exchange for all minkind, to die for our sins etc.

But even if this were true, would it be such a great sacrifice?

Giving one life in exchange for thousands ... millions ... billions seems to be not too big a sacrifice for the return and one that many people would make today. In fact, people give their lives for much less ...

How about, instead, the unknown soldier who stays behind knowing he will die but trying to save his comrades.

... the fireman who dies saving the life of another

... or the passerby who rescues a child but dies in the process.

None of these 'know' like Jesus did that they will be straight back up to heaven and receiving the 'keys to the kingdom' or that they will be saving billions of souls but they make the sacrifice still and to me, this is a much greater sacrifice.

refiners fire

I thought mister Spocks, at the end of "Wrath of Khan" was bigger.

Simon

ha ha - I remember going to the pictures to see that and it was quiet as an audience of dads and kids fought back the tears.

From the back of the cinema came the trembling voice of a small boy who, almost sobbing said:

"Spock's not really dead ... is he ....... dad?"

A few seconds silence and then an even more distraught voice almost in tears:

"yes" (sob)

And at that point everyone lost it. lol.

Dismembered

Hmm something to think about. I'll mull it over

Valis

Simon...I just posted on another thread kind of like this, but I figure I'll spam your thread too..*L* It seems to me Dog was just playing games w/his son...especially if he knew the outcome anyway. If he knows he's going to cast the demons and the baddies into the lake of fire and apoint the dogooders to rule over a paradise on earth, then all that wasn't necessary. I think he just got the urge to mess w/Jesus just like he messed w/Abraham. pretty sick sense of humor huh? After all, we are only talking about one supreme being and the rest his subordinates yes?

Sincerely,

District Overbeer of the "auto sacrifice" class re: see profile pic

refiners fire

Tell you something else i have to watch alone, furtively, because I bawl my eyes out.

The ending of "Spartacus" where hes hung up and she presents his son to him. "Hes free spartacus, free".

Awwww....here i go again....(wheres the hanky?)

refiners fire

Best ever death scene in a movie:

Steven Boyd in "Ben Hur". Brando in "Mutiny on the Bounty" The strangled guy in "Godfather". Nice work guys, (Brandos, of course, involved sacrficing himself.)

onacruse

Perhaps another perspective on the question: Is it the apparent magnitude of the sacrifice that matters, or the motivation behind the sacrifice?

If the first, then how would we measure that magnitude? By the stature of the person? The number of people impacted? In that case, if we accept the Biblical portrayal of who Jesus was and what his ransom accomplished for all mankind, then his sacrifice would be the greatest possible.

OTOH, if motivation is the key factor, then the examples you cite are all equally as great as Jesus' sacrifice. Indeed, in that case, someone who gave up their life merely out of a feeling of obligation (perhaps, like a soldier who took point only because he knew he would be fragged if he didn't), and not because of true love for their fellows, would earn recognition, perhaps, but probably not honor.

IMHO, I don't think that the Biblical Jesus would consider his death to be greater than anyone else's.

Craig

edit to add: Jo 15:13 "Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Pretty much levels out the field, eh?

Edited by - onacruse on 25 August 2002 21:55:22

borgfree

Simon,

I would tend to agree with you, if I believed Jesus is who the Watchtower taught us he is. For Christians who believe Jesus is God, His sacrifice takes on a much bigger meaning.

Imagine God, the Creator of everything in existence, (even the WT teaches Jesus created everything (else) coming to earth, being born and raised by imperfect humans, putting up with all of the faults of imperfect humans, His entire life, to save the lives of the very people who hated Him, and would finally torture Him, and put Him to a cruel death.

Seeing Jesus in that way, should make us more understanding of the huge sacrifice He made.

Borgfree

Edited by - borgfree on 25 August 2002 20:48:9

puzzled

If the Taliban and Osama offered Bush a deal to turn themselves in and stop all the terror they have been generating and release all prisoners in exchange for his life under the condition that he agree to go live in the middle east and be treated as a woman for 30 years and then be executed, would he do it?

Jesus ... the greatest sacrifice?

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