Remembering the Greatest Sacrifice 

This week, our nation pauses to remember.

We stand in silence.
We wear our poppies.
We read the names.
We remember those who gave their lives in war — ordinary men and women who faced extraordinary danger and chose to serve.
Their courage and sacrifice call us to gratitude, and to reflection on what it means to live for others.

As Christians, remembrance takes us even further.

Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).

He was speaking of His own death — His body given, His blood poured out — but also of His invitation to live a life shaped by love and surrender.
When we remember Jesus, we’re not only recalling an event; we’re entering a story that changes us.
We remember that He laid down His life freely

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).

We remember that His death was not defeat, but victory

“Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” 
(1 Peter 3:18).

And we remember that His resurrection brings hope that outlasts every war, every grave, and every loss.

“Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19).

I’m reminded of John G. Paton, a missionary to the South Pacific islands in the 1800s.

When Paton announced that he was going to live among islanders who were known to have killed and eaten previous missionaries, an older man tried to stop him:

"You will be eaten by cannibals!" he warned.

Paton’s response has become one of the most striking statements of faith in missionary history:

“Mr. Dickson, you are advanced in years now, and your own prospect is soon to be laid in the grave, there to be eaten by worms; I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honouring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by Cannibals or by worms; and in the Great Day my resurrection body will arise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer.”
— John G. Paton: Missionary to the New Hebrides, 1889

Paton didn’t say this lightly. He knew what it meant to risk his life. But he also knew the One who had already given His life for him.
That certainty — the love of Christ and the promise of resurrection — freed him from fear.

Remembering Christ does that.

It gives us courage to love when it’s costly, to serve when it’s hard, and to live with hope when the world feels dark.

As Paul wrote,

“The love of Christ compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all” (2 Corinthians 5:14).

So as we take time this week to remember — whether in a service, at a memorial, or simply in a quiet moment — let’s remember the One who gave His life for all.

His sacrifice shapes not only what we believe, but how we live.

Three Ways to Live in the Light of His Sacrifice

1. Live thankfully.

Take a moment each day to pause and thank God — not just for safety and peace, but for salvation.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” 
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Gratitude changes how we see the world and how we treat others.

2. Live courageously.

Like John Paton, let faith drive out fear. Step out in obedience — even when it feels risky.

“Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” 
(Joshua 1:9).

You may not be called to cross an ocean, but you can cross the street to show kindness, speak truth, or offer help.

3. Live hopefully.

In a world marked by conflict and loss, remember that death does not have the final word.

“He is not here; He has risen!” (Luke 24:6).

Let that hope shape the way you face tomorrow — with steady hearts and open hands.

As we remember those who gave their lives for our freedom, may we also remember the One who gave His life for our salvation.

And may His love — strong, self-giving, and victorious — be what shapes us.

This blog is based on the message on Remembrance Sunday 9 November by Phil Hibbert