The Brother who died for me

Our Bible study at church this quarter has focused on what it means to be clothed in Christ. I cannot resist the temptation to share this story told by a Romanian pastor imprisoned for his faith before the fall of Communism, to criminals sharing his cell.

There were once two brothers. The elder was a devout, God-fearing man while the younger was a rebel who surrounded himself with unsavoury companions and riotous living. One day, he ran to his older brother who was reading in his study screaming: “Brother, save me! The police are after me. I have killed a man!” Without hesitating, his older brother grasped the situation. “I will save you, let us change garments,” he replied. The elder brother donned the blood-stained garments, and handed his white robe to his younger sibling. They had barely dressed when the cops burst in on the scene and arrested the older brother on charges of murder.

At his trial he pleaded guilty, saying to the judge: “I accept full responsibility for the crime.” Faced with the evidence-the pursuit, the bloodstained clothes and a confession, he was sentenced to death. “What is your final wish?” the judge asked. “Only one”, replied the supposed criminal. “Please deliver this letter to my brother at the moment of my execution.”

On opening the letter, the younger brother read: “My beloved, at this moment I die in your place, in your bloodstained clothes, for your crime. I am happy to offer this sacrifice because I love you. All I ask is that in the white robe I gave you, you live a life of righteousness and purity. I have no other desire!”

As the younger brother read the letter, tears flowed down his cheeks. He ran in desperation, hoping to stop the execution but no one believed his story. “The crime has been expiated-what happened between you two is none of our concern” said the judge. Thereafter, every time his former friends called him to loose living, the younger brother would say: “In the white robe left to me by my brother who gave his life for me, I can no longer do the evil deeds I did before.”

Jesus Christ,  Son of God (our elder Brother) paid a terrible price in dying for our sins. Our token of love to Him is a life of righteousness and purity. Our good works cannot save us-if they could, Christ would not have had to die. No matter how good you are now or intend to be in future, your past sins still condemn you until you accept Christ's sacrifice for your atonement. Keeping God’s Commandments should not be a burden to us, but a token of our love for Christ.

"If ye love me, keep my commandments. "-John 14:15 (Jesus speaking)
"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."- 1 John 5:3
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.-Romans 5:6-10

Also read Matt ch 26-ch 28 on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, remembering that He did all this for you. Also read John 13.

What kind of brother are you?

The story in Luke 15 tells of a young man who demanded his inheritance so he could start a life of his own. After much deliberation, his father is forced to accede to his request as his son refuses to see the error of his ways. The son squanders his inheritance on riotous living, and soon is left empty - handed. Friends desert him as his inheritance dwindles. Eventually he is alone, left to fend for himself in an unfamiliar and hostile world. He possesses little skill or wisdom as he refused to use the time spent with his father to learn a trade or help in the family business. As a young Jewish lad he eventually finds himself hired as a keeper of swine, a job that in his culture would have been viewed as unclean and despicable.

Eventually he comes to his senses and returns home, planning to beg the forgiveness of God and his father and to secure a place among his dad’s hired labourers, as he is no longer worthy to be called his son. The magnitude of his sin weighs heavily on him as he walks the dusty road to his village. Suddenly from afar, he sees a figure running toward him, robes flapping ridiculously. He immediately recognizes his father, arms outstretched and looking less than dignified as he dashes toward his son to embrace him, kissing him on the neck. With tears in his eyes, he commands that the best robe be put on his son, sandals on his feet and the signet ring of authority on his right hand thus restoring him to the position of honour he once held as his son.

Meanwhile the older son who had remained with the father came in from the fields after a hard day’s labour and was less than impressed with the reason for the great celebration the father had arranged. After his brother had left home, he had to carry the workload of two men and he had no time for fun or celebration. He reasoned that he was better than his brother. After all he had sacrificed much to remain with his father. He felt unappreciated, and his grudging obedience to the father was taking its toll on him.

As part of the church of Christ, what kind of brother are you? Are you happy when your brother in the Lord comes home, sinful though he may be? Remember, you have sinned too. Take the example of Jesus to heart. As our elder brother, He chose to leave the glories of Heaven to risk all to save us. Now that we are safely home, he commands us to do the same. We are to go into the world, looking for straying children of our Father for He longs to welcome them home.

Scripture references: Luke 15:10-32