Sermon Central
-
Supreme Sacrifice
Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 21, 2011 (message contributor)
SUPREME SACRIFICE
In January 2001, Seiko Sakamoto, a Japanese plasterer in a Tokyo subway station, fell into the path of an oncoming train. Lee Su Hyun, a Korean student in Japan, leaped down on the tracks to save Sakamoto. Both Hyun and Sakamoto were killed.
This selfless act by the Korean student on behalf of the Japanese laborer has caused many people in Japan to reconsider their long-held prejudices against Koreans. Strong feelings of distrust between the two countries go back to World War II atrocities that the Japanese inflicted on Koreans. Many Japanese people, including the prime minister of Japan, have openly expressed sorrow over their stereotypes of Koreans and have begun to talk about reconciliation.
Nobuaki Fujioka, sixty-two, of Japan, says, "I felt a kind of shame. A young foreigner sacrificed his life for a Japanese. This is not an easy thing to do."
By giving his one and only Son, God took the initiative in healing our broken relationship with him. He made the supreme sacrifice for us that we might be reconciled to him.
(Craig Brain Larson and Phyllis Ten Elshof. 1001 Illustrations That Connect. [Shigehiko Togo and Doug Struck. "Japan Searches Its Soul to Fathom Fatal Gesture". Washington Post, January 30, 2001]. Grand Rapids; Zondervan, 2008, p. 343). From a sermon by John Williams III, Connecting the Disconnected, 6/16/2011)
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
John Wesley Provides The Most Convicting Analysis ... PRO
Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Jul 20, 2004
John Wesley provides the most convicting analysis on what it means to be a true servant: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you can.” Rick ...read more
-
The First Day Of School Our Professor Introduced ... PRO
Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 21, 2004
The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn’t already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a winkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire ...read more
-
And Starting Today, You Are Beginning To Turn ... PRO
Contributed by Peter Schmidt on Nov 13, 2003
And starting today, you are beginning to turn into adults. While your parents still are going to make a lot of choices for you, you are just beginning that Phase where you begin to make some life-changing decisions. You will learn that mom and dad won’t always be there to tell you what to do. I’m ...read more
-
Over The Long Run, Love's Power To Forgive Is ... PRO
Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Dec 1, 2004
"Over the long run, love’s power to forgive is stronger than hate’s power to ...read more
-
I Was Fascinated When I Read The Following ... PRO
Contributed by Tim Richards on Dec 1, 2004
I was fascinated when I read the following research a number of years in Dennis Waitley’s, Empires of the Mind. Waitley reported that although there are approximately 450,000 words in the English language, about 80% of our conversations use only about 400 ...read more
Related Sermons
-
Forgive Or Not To Forgive
Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Feb 28, 2012
Forgiveness is the way the Lord releases us from guilt and sets us free to continue loving God and others.
-
Getting Over Your Hang-Ups Series
Contributed by Chris Kelly on Oct 31, 2006
Learn with Esther how to understand and follow the invisible God through the incredible trials and challenges of life.
-
Family Forgiveness Series
Contributed by Jim Drake on Aug 18, 2009
Because everyone has sinned, everyone needs forgiveness. That is especially true within families. How does forgiveness play out in our families?
-
The Power Of Reconciliation Series
Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Oct 25, 2011
Unforgiveness and biterness will destroy your relationship with God and others.We must reconcile with God so that we can live the life that God intends for us.
-
Unforgiveness Is The Cancer Of The Soul
Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 7, 2010
Unforgiveness is the cancer of the soul. It’s a spiritual prison, enslaving the one who refuses to let go, to leave behind, to forgive.
