Reflecting on Christ's Love For Us

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 NASB95

In my home town of College Station, Texas, there is a quiet hallway which runs along the north side of the Memorial Student Center on the campus of my alma mater, Texas A&M University. The hallowed hallway is a quiet place honoring the seven Texas Aggies who earned the Congressional Medal of Honor in the battles of World War II. There are seven framed pictures with the stories of the great sacrifices of these true American heroes in service to the land they loved. Most of these men gave their lives for us. The two who survived their wounds suffered from pain and physical hardship the rest of their lives.

I had the honor of knowing one of these surviving men, Lieutenant Eli L. Whiteley. Mr. Whiteley was a quiet man in a wheel chair with a patch over his right eye. The following is his story as told on the wall of that hushed hall at Texas A&M:

“While leading his platoon on December 27, 1944, in savage house-to-house fighting through the fortress town of Sigolsheim, France, he attacked a building through a street swept by withering mortar and automatic weapons fire. He was hit and severely wounded in the arm and shoulder; but he charged into the house alone and killed its two defenders. Hurling smoke and fragmentation grenades before him, he reached the next house and stormed inside, killing two more and capturing eleven of the enemy. He continued leading his platoon in the extremely dangerous task of clearing hostile troops from strong points along the street until he reached a building held by fanatical Nazi troops. Although suffering from wounds which had rendered his left arm useless, he advanced on this strongly defended house, and after blasting out a wall with bazooka fire, charged through a hail of bullets. Wedging his sub-machinegun under his uninjured arm, he rushed into the house through the hole torn by his rockets, killed five of the enemy and forced the remaining twelve to surrender. As he emerged to continue his fearless attack, he was again hit and critically wounded. In agony and with one eye pierced by a shell fragment, he shouted for his men to follow him to the next house. He was determined to stay in the fighting, and remained at the head of his platoon until forcibly evacuated. By his disregard for personal safety, his aggressiveness while suffering from severe wounds, his determined leadership and superb courage, 1st Lt. Whiteley killed nine Germans, captured twenty-three more and spearheaded an attack which cracked the core of enemy resistance in a vital area.”

I once asked Mr. Whiteley what motivated him to keep fighting in spite of his wounds. He simply said, “Love.” When I pressed him further, he said, “I knew there was an enemy who wanted to kill everyone I loved, and I was going to do everything in my power to stop him—even if I had to die to do it.”

There was another Hero who ultimately gave His life in order to stop the enemy from killing His loved ones. His name was Jesus, and the enemy was sin. Because Jesus suffered a cruel death on the cross for our sins, we have the promise of eternal life. The Bible says that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

As we move closer to the Easter season, may we reflect upon all that Christ endured to bring salvation to mankind. Remember to share God’s blessings with others. As we look forward to spring awakening from winter’s slumber, let’s wake to a season of renewal and realization of Christ’s love for us.

Love,
Pastor Larry