Christians as Sacrificial Lambs

Today Mission Network News begins an article this way...

India (MNN) ? Church leaders in India say Christians were "sacrificial lambs" targeted by hard-line Hindus seeking an advantage in upcoming national elections. The All India Christian Council says the toll after nearly two months of violence has reached 59 dead and 50,000 displaced. Officials in the eastern state of Orissa, site of the worst violence, say 34 people have been killed.

The article goes on to discuss this situation further. And so I would ask that you take the time to read the article for that information.

Now I'd like to talk a little bit about the enormity of the sacrifice of the Christian being persecuted in India. I know that if you read about persecution all the time, it can be really easy to have your eyes glaze over and to forget the enormity of each and every life that is taken due to the violence from these radicals, against Christians.

But we must remember that each and every life is a life that God created. Psalm 139:13-16 says...

13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

Isn't this an amazing portion of holy scripture! So when I think about Christians being called "sacrificial lambs", the first thing I remember is that each human life is a life created by God.

The second thing I consider is that Jesus was offered up as the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world.

John 1:29 says, "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

John 1:35-37 goes on to say,

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"

When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.

And Revelation 7 gives us this promise...

Revelation 7:16-17

Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

So when we read about Christians being sacrificial lambs, we can know that these dear Christians are following in the footsteps of their Savior. We can also rejoice in knowing that the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, will also wipe away every tear from their eyes, and also sustain those who lose their martyred loved ones.

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