I am particulary thinking like in a hostage situation or if like if one person goes out then an angry mob will attack that one person and be to distracted to see other people get away.
Actually,that is precisely what Jesus did. And too God the Father send his son into world in order to die on the cross for us.
And as Christians realize, we are to imitate Christ. This brings in a possible new aspect of meaning to Christs’ command to pick up your cross and follow me. In many ways besides this one too, but we may be required to lay down our lives for others.
The difference is that in sacrificing oneself, someone else is committing the sin of murder. Your giving your life to defend others from the aggressor.
In Christ’s case, it was the all of humanity sinning that murdered him . He laid down his life to save us from our own sins.
“I tell ye, there is no greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”
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