Assaulted Savior
Two San Diego, California firefighters responded earlier
this week to a 911 call reporting an intoxicated man who had become ill on the
downtown trolley platform. As the
firefighters were trying to help the drunken man, a bystander attacked them
with a knife, stabbing both of the rescuers multiple times. Both firefighters were hospitalized.
The suspect was arrested and is being held in county jail
without bail and faces charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly
weapon and resisting arrest.
Police are trying to determine a motive. Chief Shelley Zimmerman told reporters that
the suspect, who did not appear to be acquainted with the drunken man, began
crowding the firefighters and telling them what to do as they tried to render
aid. “He was asked several times by the
firefighters to move back,” she said. "He continued to interfere with the
firefighters rendering the aid, and an altercation occurred."
How awful! Two men
were attacked while trying to help someone else!
But consider…
Jesus, the Son of God, came “to seek and to save that
which was lost” (Luke 19:10). He came to
save US! We desperately need a Savior
because our sin separates us from God and puts us on the path to eternal
destruction (Isaiah 59:1-2; Matthew 7:13-14).
God loves us so much that He gave His One and Only Son to come to our
rescue (John 3:16).
And how was the Rescuer received? He was rejected, beaten, and crucified! Sinners killed the only One who could save
them!
Yet, it was through His crucifixion that Jesus is able to
save us from our sins. Our sins demand
punishment from a just God: “for the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). But because of His great love for us, God
gave His Son to die on the cross for OUR sins so that we can be forgiven and
receive the gift of eternal life (2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7).
On Pentecost Day, The Apostle Peter preached to some of
the very ones who had cried out for Jesus’ crucifixion: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know
assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and
Christ” (Acts 2:36).
Many of them realized that they had crucified the
Promised Messiah – the Great Deliverer that had been promised by the prophets
of old. The murderers, convicted of
their sins, cried out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts
2:37).
Peter answered, “Repent, and let every one of you be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and you shall
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). The penitent believers “who gladly received
his word were baptized” (Acts 2:41).
They were saved from their sins by the blood that was shed by Jesus on
the cross – the blood that they spilt, but was also spilt for them, according
to the eternal plan of God (Acts 2:23; 1 Peter 1:18-20).
Jesus came to save YOU, too. Don’t reject the Savior. Accept His offer of salvation and eternal
life in the same way that they did on that Pentecost day: place your faith and
trust in Jesus (see Acts 16:30-31), confess Jesus before men (see Romans
10:9-10), “repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the
forgiveness of sins” (Acts 2:38). Then
God will give you His Spirit, add you to His church, and prepare a place for
you in Heaven. And, if you will continue
to walk in the light of His Word, the blood of Jesus will continue to cleanse
you from sin (1 John 1:7) and prepare you for your heavenly home.
Won’t YOU accept His offer on His terms? – David A.
Sargent
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