I recently read one such story. It was about a man travelling on a train that was suddenly overrun by a group of 40 thugs. The man watched as the group began to harass the other passengers, stealing their valuables and threatening them with knives and clubs. One of the thieves started harassing an 18-year old girl. Realising what awful things these evil men were about to do to this teenager, the man could no longer stand idle.

Armed with only a small knive, the man grabbed the teen's attacker and began to fight off the group of thugs. After killing 3 of them and seriously injuring a few others, the man was able to chase the thieves from the train, rescuing the girl from harm.

This was an impossible situation. Surely, this man knew the odds were against him; one man against forty. For him, death must have been almost certain; personal harm and injury were unavoidable. Yet, he charges ahead couragiously. Regardless of the personal cost, he is willing to protect and defend as long as he draws breath.

What drives a man to do something like this? What motivates him to look at a group of forty merciless and lawless men and say, "This is enough, I must do something. I will do something. "? What boldness and bravery must he possess to be able to charge ahead, knowing he could lose his life? What causes a man to be willing to die for a stranger?

I think I love this story so much because it is such a beautiful picture of what Jesus has done for us. As Christians, it is easy for us to get so used to hearing the salvation story that it becomes normal for us. We throw around Christian terms without actually taking the time to ponder and worship. However, what Jesus has accomplished is not just some ordinary thing.

Jesus counts the full cost, yet willingly enters the battlefield: sword drawn, eyes looking forward. Those who stand against Him laugh at Him and mock Him; there is no way this lone man can defeat them. Yet, He looks death in the eye with a fiery, fearful determination. He boldly steps forward proclaiming that He will do it. He breathes His last breath, victorious. He rises from the dead, victorious. He drives His mighty sword into the ground and takes His place at the right hand of His Father, victorious.

But again, what causes someone to do this? What drives someone to die for a stranger? And not only a stranger, but for an enemy? The marvel is that, in salvation's story, we are not the innocent 18-year old girl. We are the evil men. We are the thief, the rapist, the murderer. Why would someone want to die for a person like that?

The answer to this question does not lie in anything we have done or anything we are. The answer lies within God's character. The love of God is what motivates Him to step onto Earth, alone, to face death and to defeat it. The love of God drives Him to do what no one else could as He presents Himself as a sacrifice. The love of God is the heartbeat of His salvation as He redeems a people for Himself, grasping sin in a chokehold and dealing with it fully and eternally. The love of God is displayed for all to see as Jesus willingly takes the full weight of God's wrath, crying out that He has done it. In Jesus we see the ultimate hero. Here is our Champion, our Conqueror, our Friend.

Because of this, we too can face the battlefield of life. We can enter into the fight boldly and confidently because the cost is already paid. The reward is sure, the loss is brief. We love others fiercely because we ourselves are recipients of a fierce and jealous love. And when death comes, we can face it with certainty because our Hero has gone before us, assuring for us eternal life. Therefore, let us marvel at our gift of salvation, let us rejoice in what our Champion has done. For surely, what He has done is great. This is a story that is worthy of being retold again and again throughout the ages, echoing throughout the halls of Heaven for all eternity. This is our Hero, the mighty and victorious King Jesus.