Prayer: Sacrificing and grieving God, may we learn deeply from you, how we might live, how we might serve you by offering ourselves to your service. Amen.

Well, we’ve come to the point of the season’s finale. Unlike Hollywood, only it is hardly entertaining, joyous or “good” as we understand the word ‘good’ to mean in our culture. In fact, of all the traits that Jesus exemplified in his life for us to emulate, this one, the sacrificial one, the one where we pour out life from us so that others might live… that one is the most difficult.

We started out this season with having the trait of the light of Christ within and letting the world see it, and now it seems we are talking about the servant of God “pouring out himself unto death.” The light of Christ dims, darkens, flickers, goes out? And, we are to emulate that trait?

There are others who have gone before us who took seriously Jesus’ trait of offering one’s self to the point of death for the sake that others might live. In the early history of Christianity, think of his twelve disciples, all of whom died by losing their lives for the sake of Jesus—yes, including Judas. We can go a little later on and find hundreds of thousands of Christians who were persecuted for the sake of Jesus. Please don't think for one second that we aren’t part of the long line of beneficiaries of those so long ago who went to the lions, the gallows, the stoning yards, the gladiator arenas for the sake of following Jesus. Even in our modern day, although it was not his intent, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s death came as a price that was paid for following Jesus and applying Jesus’ teachings to the oppression and bigotry against people of color in our country.

Most recently, though, when thinking about making sacrifices for life, we cannot help but to think of the sacrifice soldiers make, and the sacrifices their families make, all done so that we can continue to live as we do. I hope that what you are about to observe is taken in the spirit for which it is intended.. [Take off robe… and act out the following scenario.]

[I am a soldier in the United States military. I am on a ground offensive mission in a dangerous war zone.] “You soldiers keep your heads down, and your eyes and ears open! Understand me?” [In front of the railing, shooting happens; I am hit mortally. I fall to the ground, sputtering, dying, with gasping sounds of breath. I wait. I die. Gradually, my spiritual body sits up. I look around. Slowly, tentatively.] Hello? [I speak to someone …] Hey, you OK? Are you hit? [no response.] Hey! I said, “Are you OK?” [nothing] Why aren’t you answering me? [gradual awareness occurs that I am dead, but my spirit is alive.] Oh! God! I didn’t make it! Can you guys hear me? You can’t hear me.

I… I… did it, didn't’ I? I did it Lord Jesus, I did it. I offered the ultimate sacrifice. Oh, man… I did it. Oh, man…! I always knew this was risky. Oh, I so hoped I would be able to go back home. I really wanted to say I fought for our way of life. I gave up my time so that my family, my friends, my girl, everyone can continue having the life we enjoyed so much. Now, I gave up not just my time, but my… I guess I gave up my life, too.

[The Spirit starts to spin me around. I do a couple of flying turns, run around the Communion table, and stop on the opposite corner. I am now at home… and I’m looking at my parents:] My Mom! My Dad! Hey Mom! Mom? Oh, Mom… don’t cry. Mom… Dad, don’t… don’t be that way. [pause as if listening to the parents recall the best of their son…] Yeah, I always had a good time making people laugh, especially you, Dad. [pause] Oh, wow… they’re remembering me, and all the good times we had. Whoa, that was really nice, Mom. I loved the guitar. I had so many great times playing it for our family gatherings and at church. Hey Dad, remember at Grandpa’s funeral you asked me to play “Rock of Ages.” I still remember that time—there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. I wonder… it’s been so many years ago… [singing] “Rock of ages, cleft for me. Let me hide myself in thee. Let the water and the blood, from thy wounded side which flowed. Be of sin the double cure, Save from wrath and make me pure.” Wow. I’m really surprised I remembered that.

[The Spirit starts to spin me around. I do a couple of flying turns, run around the Communion table, and stop and sit in the chair at the corner. I am at my funeral…] Hey everybody’s crying… everyone’s so sad. What’s going on? There’s mom and dad, my commanding officer, my girl, my friends and my pastor… Oh… Of course. I know where I am now. [pause] They’re saying something… [pause] Hey! Oh! I know that… “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

[pause] My pastor is saying stuff now. Yeah, as I thought… he’s talking about me. I lived a good life. I agree. I think I did.… I touched the lives of so many people? I gave up my life as a sacrifice for our lives? [pause] He is inviting everyone to have faith, and to learn from my example. The sacrifice that I made can be duplicated in different areas of our lives? Oh, I see. Yeah, I suppose so. I knew some people who gave up their Saturdays to go visit really old people in the nursing homes. Oh, yeah… I heard of some people making sacrifices by working extra jobs so that their kids can go to college. Yep… parents are a great example of how sacrifices are duplicated. So many willingly make a sacrifice so their kids can have something better.

I know Mom and Dad sacrificed a lot for me. I remember the time I was supposed to go to the Chicago Bears game with my dad, but I just got my girlfriend. I begged Dad to let me take her along, and he said OK. But when we got to the ticket gate, there were no seats left. My Dad gave up his seat so my girl and I could watch the game.

[pause, listening…] Yes, I agree… Jesus suffered a lot. My parents are suffering. They sacrificed a lot, too. So, have a whole lot of other parents who lost their sons or daughters in the war. [pause, listening…] Did you hear that? My pastor wants all of them to take comfort in the fact that I offered my life so that they could keep the life they have, and Jesus offered his life for the sake of all of us… including me! I can receive life because of Jesus.

[The Spirit starts to spin me around.] Things are getting very bright! Things are getting white with light! [I do a couple of flying turns, run around the Communion table.] Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit.

Amen. [Put black robe back on.]