What do you think of the idea that "No one ever gave so much as Jesus gave."?  This is a lyric I heard recently in a song I am judging for the Gospel Music Association of Canada and it refers to the crucifixion of Jesus.  It's Biblical to say that to give ones life for his friends is the greatest display of love (John 15:13).  So this means that Jesus displayed the greatest possible display of love.  Does it mean that no one could ever also have give as much?  I could die for my friends.  Forget that fact that in my case I'm more likely to die BECAUSE of my friends rather than FOR them, but that's another bleat altogether.

Isn't it reasonable to assume that if John 15:13 is right, then there are probably many people who have made this same kind of sacrifice - a selfless sacrifice for the benefit of someone else.

What about laying down ones life for people who aren't friends?  What about saving those who hate you by taking on the burden of death?  Didn't Jesus do this as well?  Doesn't this seem like an even greater love than the love that would only die for his friends?  Perhaps there is a mistake in the Bible?  GASP!

Was the significance of Jesus' death because he died for us, or because he died as God?  It seems unreasonable to say that ANYONE who dies in this way could defeat sin and death, but maybe it's possible.  Maybe if a non-deity lived on earth and managed by some act of perfect selflessness to die for his friends before ever committing a sin, then just maybe they too could defeat sin and death for all of mankind.  Or is that ability only reserved for God and his offspring.  So was it His lack of sin, his death for others, or his Godness that saved us when he died?  Was it a combination?  It's kind of a side question to my main thought though.

We often say that Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice.  This seems like it has some truth given John 15:13 and all that.  For some reason we then take the next, possibly unnecessary step to say, "Not only was his sacrifice ultimate in nature, it was also a greater sacrifice than anyone will ever be able to give".  Do we really mean that it's the greatest GIFT?  A gift that no one will ever be able to top.  Isn't that more true?  If I give my life for my friends and maybe even for my enemies, have I matched his sacrifice, but not come close to his gift?  I'm thinking maybe I have. 

So lets all stop saying that "no one ever gave as much as Jesus" then - unless maybe we are talking about his life and his death together.  He gave a lot in his life as well.  He healed and loved and displayed a spirit of giving during his life that was probably unmatched by most if not all people who have lived.  So if we take this fact as well as the death on the cross thing, maybe then we could say that "no one ever gave as much as Jesus".  Or could we?