A missionary working in an African country tells a personal story which helps us understand a little of what Christ has done for us.
Shortly after she arrived at the sprawling village of thatched mud homes, some visitors arrived to ask help for a friend who had an infected tooth that wouldn’t stop bleeding. She and a helper went immediately to see him. They quickly realized he needed more help than they could give, as he was losing a lot of blood. They got him into their truck and headed for the nearest hospital.
The doctor on duty could not stop the bleeding. He said the man needed a blood transfusion immediately or he would die.
The problem was to find matching blood quickly. So right there on the spot the missionary offered her own blood. It matched! Her blood was used, and a transfusion was given to the dying man. His condition improved very quickly, and after some treatment, he was able to return to his village that night.
It did not take long for word to spread around the village that the missionary had given her own blood to save a man she didn’t even know. Many came to her saying, “You saved his life and you didn’t even know us. You must love Africans very much!”
Isn’t that just what we can say when we read that “the Son of God ... loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20)? We were strangers and far from God, yet Jesus gave His life to save us from eternal death, so that we can live with Him forever.
Yes! He must love us very much!