Would I Die For You?

Have you ever truly thought about who exactly you would willingly give your life for?

In the 1998 movie “Saving Private Ryan,” Steven Spielberg brings us face to face with the drama and reality of WWII Normandy. Based on a real-life situation, the plot begins as we see an elderly man make his way onto the WWII memorial grounds on the shore of Normandy. From that point, we are whisked into a fever pitched flashback of the horrors of war as the Allies charge the beachhead and conquer the entrenched Germans. At that point, Chief of Staff, General Marshall is informed that three of a woman's sons have been killed in other battles and that she's going to receive the notifications of their demise at the same time. And when he learns that a fourth son is still unaccounted for, the General decides to send a unit to find him and bring him back, despite being told that it's highly unlikely that he is still alive and the area that he was known to be in is very dangerous.

With that knowledge in hand, the General goes against the odds and commissions a unit consisting of 8 men, led by Capt. John H. Miller (played by Tom Hanks) to be sent to find the surviving brother, Pvt James Francis Ryan (played by Matt Damon) in war-torn France, and bring him back to the family he has remaining.

As the rag-tag group of soldiers wander across the provincial countryside, it becomes obvious what the objective is and dissention begins to set in. The men wrestle with the whole idea that the army would send 8 perfectly good soldiers into a dead-end situation to rescue a single man who might not even be alive. Nonetheless, Capt Miller gathers up the crew and they continue in their search for Pvt Ryan.

Along the way, the band of brothers is met with many adversarial circumstances including illness, injury, hunger, sleep deprivation, and even death. At one point in the mission, they believe that they have discovered Pvt Ryan, only to learn that he is not the same James Ryan they seek, leaving the young man devastated by the false news of his brothers’ death.

At long last, after much sacrifice, they find Pvt James Francis Ryan, alive, well, and serving his battalion. When he learns of his brothers’ fate, he is shaken, but denies the opportunity to return home until his unit accomplishes their mission of holding a key bridge. Pressed into service, the search party (now reduced to six) take up arms with the tattered unit and await the German onslaught for control of the bridge. In the final battle scene, the true drama unfolds as Capt Miller sacrifices his own life to protect the life of the young Ryan. In his dying words, Miller exhales to Ryan, “…make this count…” With that, the Capt dies. The Allies summarily achieve victory and Ryan is returned home as ordered. In the closing scene, we see the aged Ryan kneeling at the grave of his rescuer, Capt Miller, and he reflects on the life that he’s lived in daily gratitude to the one who saved him.

Would you really give your life for someone? I’m sure many if not all of us could answer “yes” to that question with a couple of faces running through our minds…but if it came down to it, would we really? As we come to our lesson this week, we see Peter, a man of purpose and conviction standing before the Lord professing his undying allegiance – even unto death! And yet, only a matter of hours later, we find the courageous turned coward as he denies Christ three times. Yet, as we see in the Gospel of John, Jesus reinstates Peter and puts him in charge of feeding his sheep and carrying on the work of the Spirit – which will ultimately cost him his life.

In your worship this week, reflect upon the idea of the sacrifice of Christ Jesus and what is means to live a life of equal sacrifice that is worthy of the cross. Meditate on what it might mean for you to understand the significance of Christ’s death in the plan of salvation, and what your own sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel might require of you.

Resounding Themes:
Christ’s Sacrificial Death
Lives of Gratitude
Resolve Seasoned with Patience
Forgiveness Beyond Failure

Ready, Set, READ

Matthew 26:31-35, 69-75

John 21:15-19

Ready, Set, MEDITATE

- As Jesus enters into his most emotion time of his life and ministry, what does he have to say to his beloved disciples? Why does Jesus say this will all occur? How does Peter counter Jesus’ prediction? How does Jesus’ reply “up the ante?” Is Peter swayed at all? Is this in line with what we know of Peter?

- After Jesus is arrested and taken to trial, where do we find Peter? Who confronts him and what is alleged? How does Peter respond? Still again, he confronted…how does he respond? What is somewhat humorous about his first to accusers? What light is shed on of Peter’s resolve in the face of these two girls? Finally, after a third denial, how does Peter prove his innocence? Just as Jesus predicts, what occurs?

- When come to the Gospel of John, what are the circumstances between Jesus and the disciples? And Peter? Knowing this, what does Jesus ask Peter? How does Peter respond? Does his recent action match up with his response? After three rounds of similar questioning, how does Peter respond? By your estimation, does Jesus forgive Peter for his denials in the courtyard? In fact, what is Jesus really asking Peter to do?

Ready, Set, PRAY

Constant God.

Unfailing God.

Forever God.

How unmatchable is your character compared to any who have come before or will ever be! For it is you, O Lord, Who found love in Your heart for Your creation and sent Your son Jesus at just the right time. So many times, righteous Father, we have found ourselves with the heart of Peter…eager to be near You and in Your favor…quick to speak and slow to listen. So many times, our mouths have boasted our undying allegiance to Jesus’ precious name; then, as winter ryegrass in the scorching July sun, our resolve withers dormant in the face of opposition or challenge.

O God, what a wretched people we are!

Yet, You meet our inadequacies with Your perfection, our instability with Your constancy…our failure with Your triumph! Restore us once again, blessed Savior. Give us purpose, and dignity, and strength to hold fast to the charge you have given. May we feed Your little lambs, even at the expense of our lives if need be.

Grant us a willing Spirit to sustain us. This is our prayer.

AMEN.

Ready, Set, WORSHIP!