Hmmm, would you die for YOUR child? (hell, Buddha, quotes)

[esselcue]

I've been reading posts today and in several places I kept seeing the same comment "Jesus (God) loved us so much he died for us..." and I got to thinking: wouldn't most parents die for their children? I know I would. My son died in an accident eight years ago and I can guarantee you that if I could have died in his place, I would have jumped at that chance! I would have hung on a cross, had my fingernails ripped out and my eyes blinded with hot coals if it would have saved his life. So why is this such a big deal among Christians?

I can already hear the replies, and the semantics will be explained, I suppose. Jesus died to save us from our sins...to save us from Hell..to save us from ourselves, yada yada yada... But it bothers me that this is made out to be such a huge sacrifice, when every loving parent I know would die a gruesome death if it meant saving their child. AND...Jesus had the knowledge that he would not stay dead...it was all a temporary fix, so was it really all that big of a sacrifice?

[Tricky D]

It depends on what kind a person my child is.
I will not sacrifice my life for a serial predator or anyone else who loves to inflict physical and / or psychological pain on others.

[esselcue]

Okay, you got me there.

[Tricky D]

Originally Posted by esselcue

Okay, you got me there.

And I wasn't even trying.

[TXboomerang]

Would you die for your child if they had spent their entire life forsaking you, rejecting you, denying you, and despising you? It would be easy to die for someone we love that we have a relationship with. Or for that matter it would be easy for me to sacrifice my life for a stranger if the situation presented itself (shove a kid out of the way of a vehicle, run in a burning building, etc.) However, I think I would not be able to do such with no hesitiation if it was someone who had despised and rejected me in spite of me doing nothing but loving and forgiving them my entire life.

[cg81]

Originally Posted by esselcue

So why is this such a big deal among Christians?

I guess I don't understand your point. Would it have been a big deal to your son if you would have died for him? I'm sure it would have. You say that any loving parent would die for their child... would this have made your sacrifice of life any less meaningful?

Sorry if I'm being crude.. I don't mean to be. I feel for your loss...

I guess what I'm trying to say is.. yes, I am thankful that Jesus saved my life. Why shouldn't I be?

[Tricky D]

Originally Posted by tnbound2day

Would you die for your child if they had spent their entire life forsaking you, rejecting you, denying you, and despising you?

This would depend on how I as a father have treated my child.
I mean if I had ran off the day he/she was born, I would not hold it against my child if I was forsaken, rejected, denied or despised by him/her.

[BagongBuhay]

Originally Posted by tnbound2day

Would you die for your child if they had spent their entire life forsaking you, rejecting you, denying you, and despising you? It would be easy to die for someone we love that we have a relationship with. Or for that matter it would be easy for me to sacrifice my life for a stranger if the situation presented itself (shove a kid out of the way of a vehicle, run in a burning building, etc.) However, I think I would not be able to do such with no hesitiation if it was someone who had despised and rejected me in spite of me doing nothing but loving and forgiving them my entire life.

Well, there you go! There's the answer! Jesus gave up his life for everyone, including those who despised and maligned him, and including the criminals (whom he was crucified alongside), so he's an equal opportunity life giver-upper - no criteria, no questionnaire. That's why it's a big deal cuz we ordinary mortals have to have criteria, right? He's just a Nike kind of guy...just do it!

[Travelling fella]

Originally Posted by esselcue

But it bothers me that this is made out to be such a huge sacrifice, when every loving parent I know would die a gruesome death if it meant saving their child. AND...Jesus had the knowledge that he would not stay dead...it was all a temporary fix, so was it really all that big of a sacrifice?

I agree with you every loving parent would die for their children.

I believe in Jesus and I see him as an Avatar but rather than believing he died to save us or that he died for our sins, I believe that he chose to die rather than being violent, to forgive rather than take revenge.

Like Jesus himself stated.

Don't you think that I could call on my Father, and he would send me more than twelve legions of angels now? Matthew 26:53

But rather than that he chose to live by the phillosophy that is behind any true religion

Jesus kept saying, "Father, forgive them, because they don't know what they're doing." Luke 23:34

I believe this is the true value of Jesus sacrifice, he showed the way that leads to God or Nirvana if you prefer, or to real happiness if you prefer by his example, the same way that was shown by Buddha , Krishna and more recently by Gandhi

Some quotes of Jesus, Buddha and Gandhi.

"I am giving you a new commandment to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another." Jesus

"Fearlessness; purification of one’s existence; cultivation of spiritual knowledge; charity; self-control; performance of sacrifice; study of the Vedas; austerity; simplicity; nonviolence; truthfulness; freedom from anger; renunciation; tranquillity; aversion to faultfinding; compassion for all living entities; freedom from covetousness; gentleness; modesty; steady determination; vigor; forgiveness; fortitude; cleanliness; and freedom from envy and from the passion for honor—these transcendental qualities, O son of Bharata, belong to godly men endowed with divine nature." Krishna

``He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,'' in those who harbour such thoughts hatred is not appeased.
``He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,'' in those who do not harbour such thoughts hatred is appeased.

Hate is not overcome by hate; by Love (Metta) alone is hate appeased. This is an eternal law.
The others know not that in this quarrel we perish; those of them who realise it, have their quarrels calmed thereby. Buddha

A coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it is the prerogative of the brave. Gandhi

Even though Avatars are divine incarnations, they still possess human qualities, that's why even Christ was tempted by satan in the mount of sinai and during his crucifiction about the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Psalm 22:1

[ShepsMom]

Originally Posted by tnbound2day

Would you die for your child if they had spent their entire life forsaking you, rejecting you, denying you, and despising you? It would be easy to die for someone we love that we have a relationship with. Or for that matter it would be easy for me to sacrifice my life for a stranger if the situation presented itself (shove a kid out of the way of a vehicle, run in a burning building, etc.) However, I think I would not be able to do such with no hesitiation if it was someone who had despised and rejected me in spite of me doing nothing but loving and forgiving them my entire life.

Wow, if you child despise you so much, then may be it's not your child's fault? Ya think?

I guess what I'm trying to say is.. yes, I am thankful that Jesus saved my life. Why shouldn't I be?

That's another thing i don't understand. How did Jesus saved your life?
Also, if he died for all of us, doesn't it mean that god loved all, without exception? According to quote above from tnbound, it doesn't seem logical.