Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
Since a man’s life is all that he has, no greater love can he demonstrate than the forfeiture of it in behalf of another. But the real value in the sacrifice is not strictly the act of giving up one’s life. Such acts are not infrequently done by ideologically motivated persons who lay down their lives for future reward, vainglory, or even hatred.
Apostle Paul points out the uselessness of such sacrifice: ‘though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity [love], it profiteth me nothing’ (1 Corinthians 13:3). The worth of any action is in the purity of its motive – being done without a trace self interest, or as Jesus said, ‘for his friends’.
The following story is of a man who took these words to heart, and exemplifies the spirit in which Christ surrendered His life.
In 1569, Dirk Willems was arrested at Asperen, Holland. This Anabaptist was arrested for holding meetings where he taught forbidden doctrines. Dirk was charged for the crime of permitting several persons to be re-baptised. Upon inquisition, Dirk ‘persisted obstinately in his opinion’, and the judges determined that he would be ‘executed with fire, until death ensues’.
The book Martyr’s Mirror immortalised the selfless deed of the martyr after he escaped through an unbarred window:
Concerning his apprehension, it is stated by trustworthy persons, that when he fled he was hotly pursued by a thief-catcher, and as there had been some frost, said Dirk Willems ran before over the ice, getting across with considerable peril. The thief-catcher following him broke through, when Dirk Willems, perceiving that the former was in danger of his life, quickly returned and aided him in getting out, and thus saved his life. The thief-catcher wanted to let him go, but the burgomaster, very sternly called to him to consider his oath, and thus he was again seized by the thief-catcher, and, at said place, after severe imprisonment and great trials proceeding from the deceitful papists, put to death at a lingering fire by these bloodthirsty, ravening wolves, enduring it with great steadfastness, and confirming the genuine faith of the truth with his death and blood, as an instructive example to all pious Christians of this time, and to the everlasting disgrace of the tyrannous papists.
Dirk Willems exemplified the great love that His Master had demonstrated. His act, as heroic as it was, was but an ember born of a greater flame. Like this faithful martyr, Jesus did not die for His friends alone. In fact, every man and woman Jesus died for was a mortal enemy before Christ began the process of reconciliation. As the nails were driven through His hands, Jesus cried out, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do’ (Luke 23:34).
If we would contemplate more often the matchless love of our Saviour towards His relentless murderers, we would not be so quick to retaliate towards the trifling injustices we perceive are committed against ourselves. When the followers of Jesus learn what is this ‘greater love’, the work of God will go forward with power.
Christopher Sparks