No Greater Love

Military homecomings are wonderful!  We’ve all seen video clips of families greeting their returning soldier, sailor, airman,  Marine or Coastie.  They occur at airports, when ships dock, and when a unit walks down the ramp of a cargo plane; or they can be total surprises at a spouse’s workplace or a child’s school.  I’ve experienced several homecomings as a Coastie returning home after a deployment or mobilization.  I don’t have the words to describe what I felt when I first saw Michele and my daughters after months of separation.

But not everyone comes home.  Some men and women never experienced those indescribable feelings of seeing their loved ones; and their families, rather than knowing the joy of reunion, live with the pain of loss for the span of their lives.  As the song says (the original quotation is attributed to a Korean War vet, Howard William Osterkamp), “All gave some, some gave all.”  This is why we have a holiday known as Memorial Day – to recognize and remember that some Americans gave their lives in service to their country.

Jesus said, “Greater love has no on than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” (John 5:13).  This was spoken to the disciples in the context of teaching them to trust and abide in Him and to love one another.  If we truly love one another with this kind of love, the Greek agape love, sacrifice comes naturally.   Some fallen warriors were casualties of battle who would claim there was nothing heroic about their deaths.  Others willingly sacrificed themselves that their comrades might live, or at least have a chance to live.  Is this bravery?  Is it love?  Does it matter?  Whatever we call it a life was given in service and someone did not come home.

However, there is a more important Memorial  Day we celebrate earlier in the Spring that is all about love:  Good Friday.  It truly represents the greatest love – a love that forgives and redeems.  It required the sacrifice of an innocent man, the only truly innocent and perfect man who was also God.  His sacrifice did save lives. His sacrifice paid the price for sins that we could not pay.  Think of the most amazing story of personal bravery and sacrifice you’ve ever heard and it pales in comparison to what Jesus did for us on Good Friday.

We are right to honor those who died in service.  We are right to remember them and their families and we owe them a debt of gratitude that simply cannot be repaid.  However, as you remember these men and women and their families on Memorial Day, do not forget the one who made the ultimate sacrifice and showed the greatest love.