"The concept of sacrifice is, after all, common to human idealism in a large part of the world and always has been, quite independently of the Christian message", said Author Cuastance of the web page "Life" (http://danielssite.com/). Indeed, it is common because, I believe, it is part of our instinct to make sacrifices for the ones we love. Fathers sacrifice their rest and leisure, working hard instead, in order to send their children to school, some wives sacrifice their careers to be able to stay at home and raise their children, soldiers who sacrifice their lives in wars for the country they love, heroes who sacrifice their pride in order to stand for the truth, a best friend who would sacrifice everything for the sake of his friend. These we see everyday in this world, not only among Christians. Even Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friend" (John 15:13). But there is no sacrifice if there is no love. Love is the motivating factor why a sacrifice is done. And this stems to that verse which most Christians know and recite, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

    This season of Lent, we commemorate that sacrifice that Jesus went through in order for us to be redeemed. I suppose that as He spoke about laying down one's life for our friend, He was talking about Himself and that He was teaching His disciples to follow His example-- definitely not to the extent of crucifying themselves for Him because what good will it do anyone? But the disciples suffered much in order to preach Jesus and the Gospel to the Jews and to the Gentiles. One was stoned to death, one mangled to death after being tied to the end of a rope attached to a horse-driven carriage,  Peter was also crucified to death but he requested the cross to be turned upside down in respect to Jesus, and others were imprisoned and beaten. Should we also sacrifice the same in order to please God? Actually, the disciples sacrificed their lives in order to let the rest of the world know that Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice already; the only thing that we need to do is believe that He is the way to the Father and this pleases God.

     And so, if we reflect on our own sacrifices for our loved ones, can we compare them to the sacrifice that Jesus has done once and for all because of His great love for us? Perhaps, when we do, it can give us courage and strength to continue to love, even those who are unlovable.