The plane carrying Dr. Frederick Banting, a famous physician-scientist, crashed in a snowstorm in a forest near Musgrave Harbor, Newfoundland. One of Banting's lungs was punctured by crushed ribs, but he used his waning strength to bandage the wounds of the pilot, the only survivor. Then he lay down on the pine boughs in the snow and went into the sleep from which he never awakened. This great doctor, who had done so much for humanity by discovering insulin, died as he had lived, in selfless service to others.
Jesus talked of such men: Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. Jesus Himself later did this, sacrificing His life for all the sins of this world. We admire men like Banting but we adore Christ, because He was not a mere man; He was God's only Son Who came to die that we might live.
The premise of the Gospel Christ preached is that we should selflessly serve Him. Jesus often talked of crosses to carry, burdens to bear, and enemies to love. He then said that if we obey His commands, we are indeed His friend and He ours. However, love is not optional with the believer: This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. The real believer is one who has given up his own selfishness to serve Christ and those about him. We are saved to serve.
“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”
John 15:14 KJV
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