The Greatest Love

There is a grave in France at Le Mans West Cemetery where my great uncle lies, killed in action in World War 2.

This week was the 70 year anniversary of his death.

From the World War 2 Roll of Honour you can read;
DONALD BROWN
7/8 May 1944 - 138 Squadron - Halifax LL280 - NF-O
Crashed at St-Denis-de-Orques (Sarthe). Operation CITRONELL 1, France.
Flying Officer 130272, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Navigator. Died on Monday 8th May 1944. Age 23. Son of Thomas Cairns Brown and Katherine Mackloughlan Brown; husband of Mary Brown, of Harborne, Birmingham. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). Buried in LE MANS WEST CEMETERY, Sarthe, France. Plot 21. Row C. Collective grave 7-11. 

I want to go there one day.

Last words spoken are very significant. Married less than one year before, in his letter to his wife Mary he wrote "I gladly lay down my life for the next generation". His daughter Susan was born 4 days after he was killed.

At the last supper, Jesus told the disciples in John 15:13
"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." These words are often quoted at our ANZAC war remembrance services on April 25th each year.

According to John who was there at the crucifixion, Jesus last words were "It is finished" (John 19:30). In Greek the word is "Tetelestai". These words are very significant. In those days;
1.When a servant completed a difficult job he would tell his master "Tetelestai".
2.When a Jewish priest was presented with a sacrifice he would tell the presenter "Tetelestai" if the sacrifice was accepted.
3.At the market, a seller would tell the buyer "Tetelestai" if the full price had been paid and the deal done.
4.An artist finishing a sculpture would stand back and say "Tetelestai" if the work was complete and could not be made any better.
5. Finally if a child could 100% recite a memory verse, the parent would tell the child "Tetelestai".

Nothing more can be done. The terrible gap between God and man caused by our sin is bridged. What we've done that has hurt God and others is forgiven. The reconciliation of God and Man is finished. 

Love makes us do extraordinary things : )

It is love that made the Father send Jesus to die for us and for Jesus to go willingly. Innocent but mocked and beaten beyond recognition, nailed naked to a cross, dying to save us.

There is a grave in Jerusalem "at the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid." John 19:41

But if you go there one day, you know you won't find Jesus body because as the scriptures tell us the Gospel that "Jesus is risen". And we will too if we believe in him! That's the GOOD NEWS!