Topic(s): Jesus

On January 26, 2005, a California train derailed, killing 11 people and injuring over 200. About 6:00 a.m., a Metrolink commuter train struck a sport-utility vehicle parked on the tracks in an aborted suicide attempt in Glendale. The train derailed and struck another Metrolink train.

One of the 200 injured was a 44-year-old named John Phipps. Phipps normally would not have taken the train, but he had been called to work early at an aerospace plant in Burbank. He sat down upstairs in the double-decked car and went to sleep. They next thing he remembered was waking up, feeling mist falling on his face, and seeing smashed bits of the train. He touched the back of his head and looked at his hands, which were covered in blood. He called for help but got no immediate answer. Trapped under debris, he waited for rescuers.

At one point, Phipps reached out and touched an upended train seat that sat right above him. Believing he was dying, he found himself leaving a message to his wife and children with his own blood. He wrote:

“I love my kids. I love Leslie.”

Rescuers came on the scene later and saw the message. Fire Captain Robert Rosario said, “I’ve seen some gruesome things on this job, but that moved me. My only thought was, I have to get that seat to his wife and kids.” His wife said about the message, “Hallmark is never going to top that. It’s moving, it’s thoughtful, and it’s chilling all at the same time.”

The story of John Phipps and his message written in his own blood is a moving one, but there is another more moving love story written in blood: The love of JESUS CHRIST for a lost world.

Due to our sin, you and I were “pinned” under the condemnation of sin with no hope. But Jesus came to our rescue. To save us from our sins, Jesus had to shed His blood as payment for them. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7). The blood of Jesus redeems those who accept His offer of salvation by believing in Him (Acts 16:30–31), turning from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30–31), confessing Him before men (Romans 10:9–10), and being baptized (immersed) in His name for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). The blood of Jesus will continue to cleanse those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

With His own blood, Jesus demonstrated His great love for you and for me. The message is moving, thoughtful, and chilling all at the same time, and it is the means of our salvation if we will accept His gift on His terms.

Won’t you respond to His great love through your loving obedience? —David A. Sargent, Mobile, Alabama

Earth’s Most Sacred Spot

Topic(s): Jesus

Some time ago I bought a fine little devotional book on the death of Christ. One of the chapters was on “Earth’s Most Sacred Spot.” The author was referring to Golgotha, “the place which is called Calvary.” Because our Savior suffered and died there, the author considered it the most sacred of all places. But I want to assure you that earth’s most sacred spot is not some hill on the other side of the world. The most sacred place on this earth is right here at His table, when we commune with Jesus and with one another in breaking bread and drinking the cup of the Lord. —David Pharr

“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” —1 Corinthians 10:16