The place was a cemetery. A man was bending over a newly-made grave, planting some flowers. A stranger nearby, observing the man and seeing that he was weeping, thought to comfort him, saying, “I suppose this may be the grave of your wife?”
“No,” he replied, “I have not lost my wife.”
“Perhaps, then, this is the grave of your child?”
“No, I have lost neither wife nor child. I shed these tears for one who died for me. I was called to serve as a soldier, but I have a wife and children who would have been left uncared for if I were killed on the field of battle. The law allowed a man to obtain a substitute to serve in his place, so my friend said, ‘I have neither wife nor child; I will go instead of you.’
“In one of the battles he was wounded. When I learned of this and found where he was, I hurried to the hospital to see him. But I was too late. He died just before I got there. Now he is buried in this grave. He died for me and I am planting these flowers in remembrance of him.”
Afterward the man had a gravestone placed there and on it were carved these simple words,
HE DIED FOR ME.
What noble men these were! One could die for his friend, and the other could weep for him. Devotion such as this is not often heard of.
The greatest act of devotion that has ever happened was something like this, but it was immeasurably, infinitely greater. Jesus, the Son of God, died for the sake of His enemies! Wicked men nailed Him to the cross of Calvary, but the blessed Lord Jesus said, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:3434Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (Luke 23:34)). Those same wicked men taunted Him, spat on Him, and did all that their hard hearts could think of. There on that cross the Lord Jesus bore the punishment due to my sins. He died for me. Now He is my Saviour. Can you say He is your Saviour, too? Accept God’s divine Substitute.
ML-02/03/1980