Why Christ’s Sacrifice Matters Even to Nonbelievers

The story is told of a minister who had two little children. His youngest daughter asked him one Sunday after church why he always said a prayer right before he preached. Impressed that his daughter was actually paying attention to what was going on in the service, he solemnly told her that he always prayed before the sermon to ask God to bless the sermon and make it both inspiring and encouraging to the audience. After a moment of silence, the little girl spoke up again. She said, “Daddy, why doesn’t God ever answer that prayer?”

Every pastor would like to think that all his sermons are encouraging and inspiring. Obviously some are, some aren’t. But today every Christian minister hopes to inspire people at special Good Friday services happening around the world. Today 2.5 billion Christians will pause and remember the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on the cross. His sacrifice, which was freely given, and so terrible costly to Christ in both body and soul, still speaks powerfully to Christians some 2000 years after it happened. His sacrifice made eternal salvation possible to all who place their faith in Him.

But the sacrifice of Christ on the cross should encourage and inspire more than just Christians. Even though other religions may not hold Christ in quite the same light as Christians, His sacrifice for others still sets an amazing example for all. Giving our all for others is a worthy life goal, regardless of the label we wear.

“This is My command: love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.” -John 15:12-13

Regardless of our religious background, or lack thereof, stories of deep personal sacrifice always seems to inspire us. Such stories of sacrifice remind us that life really isn’t all about us. Life is about the people around us and how we can help each other live peaceful, fulfilling and joyful lives. Life is also about making peace with God, regardless of what tribe we claim to be part of. Around the world, people try all sorts of ways to make peace with God. But in the end, it is only the sacrifice of Christ on the cross that makes true peace possible.

So whether we are Christians or not, we should be inspired today as we remember the sacrifice that Christ made for others. I hope we will do more than just be inspired, I hope we will all look for ways in which we might sacrifice for others in order to make the world a better place for our children and our grandchildren. And if we have not yet accepted the gift of salvation that Christ’s death made possible, today is a good day to make that decision.

I close with those inspiring words that Jesus said to his disciples in the Gospel of John 15:12-13: “This is My command: love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.”

Dr. Terry W. Dorsett serves as the executive director of the Baptist Churches of New England.