Do our soldiers willingly give up their lives?
Posted on November 4, 2009 by Pastor Tom
“Today we want to remember those soldiers who willingly gave up their lives for us so,” I said at a Remembrance Sunday worship service. We read “In Flanders Fields.” We had a moment of silence.
But following the service an elderly couple approached me. They asked a question I’d never thought about before. “Do you think soldiers willingly give up their lives on the battlefield?”
He was a veteran of the Russian and German armies in World War 2. He lived in Russia but was of German descent. When the Germans invaded Russia, he was recruited to the Russian army. He was captured in the first weeks of that campaign.
Then when the Germans found out he was German, they “recruited” him into their army. He fought at Stalingrad. But later he was captured by the Russians. He survived the war and eventually found his way to Canada. She was a German living in Poland. She saw first hand the German invasion of Poland and then the Russian counter invasion. Eventually she spent 13 months in prison at the end of the war for being German.
I thought about their question. I assume that soldiers who volunteer do so willingly. So they agree to put their lives on the line. But do they give up their lives willingly? I’m not sure. I’m not a soldier but from what I’ve read, it seems soldiers try to avoid death as much as possible on the battlefield.
This couple then shared their perspective. He said that on the eastern front, you fought for your buddies. You fought the enemy and fought hard to survive. You might have your life taken from you. But few willingly gave up their lives to death.
I don’t know if there is an absolute answer to that question regarding soldiers. But I do know there is one who did give up his life willingly. The Bible tells us he resolutely set out for Jerusalem to die. The night before his death, his arresters led by Judas searched for him. The Bible tells us he went out to meet them. (John 18:1–11). He asked them “Whom do you seek?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
He didn’t deny his identity. He didn’t try to get out of it. He said, “I am he.” Then something remarkable happens. “When Jesus said to them, ‘I am he,’ they drew back and fell to the ground.” Judas and all the soldiers fell down. Perhaps they were struck by the resolute nature of the one who spoke.
Jesus could have maybe run away. But he asks them “Whom do you seek,” a second time. He again acknowledges his identity. It was like Jesus was helping his arresters arrest him. These are the actions of a man who is ready to willingly give up his life. That’s why His action is remembered as the great act of love.
On this Remembrance weekend we remember those who may not have willingly died but willingly put their lives on the line.
Add the first comment...