“He died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him” (1Th 5:10).
In her book, A Man for Others, Patricia Treece tells the true story of Maximilian Kolbe. He died in a place called Auschwitz. Kolbe was a Priest, and he lived what he believed. He shared the little food he had and gave up his bunk. But he did more than that. Ten prisoners would be starved to death if anyone escaped.
Well, it happened. An officer called out the names of the prisoners. The tenth name called was Gajowniczek. He sobbed and asked to be spared because he had a wife and children. Kolbe steps forward. He begs to talk to the commandant. Surprisingly, he is allowed. He begs the commandant to let him die in the place of Gajowniczek. Unlike the condemned man, he points out that he is old and good for nothing. The request is granted. On August 14, 1941, the camp doctor injected phenol into his heart. He died in the place of Gajowniczek.
The spared man survived the Holocaust and made it back home. Each year on August 14, he returned to Auschwitz to say “thank you” to the man who died in his place. In his back yard, Gajowniczek placed a plaque carved with his own hands – a tribute to the man who died so that he could live.
Jesus came to take our place and spare us eternal separation from God. Jesus died because He said, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends “(John 15:13).
Gajowniczek never forgot the man who took his place, and his gratitude never waned. As we are being reminded of Christ’s death and resurrection this week and Easter Sunday, let’s not wait for an annual reminder, but daily give homage to our Lord for taking our place so that we may live eternally in heaven.
Rob Redden