Who Dies for a Righteous Person?

On the anniversary of the death of the Rev. Martin Luther King


Romans 5:6-11

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

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Early morning, April 4
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride

"Pride (in the Name of Love)" by U2

There's the question, "Who dies for a righteous person?" Well, Paul had it right in the letter to the Romans, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person. It seems all too obvious from the witness of scripture that the righteous person ends up dying for the unrighteous. It's always the most righteous who die for the unrighteous. That's the way is has always been and will continue to be. There's no sign this trend is changing.

When we look at the martyrs of the ages, the apostles, Stephen in the first century, even the reformers-they were all willing to die for two things-God and that people would know Him. The martyrs were willing to die for God and the people. So too with Martin Luther King, Jr.

King and the martyrs died not so that their names would be remembered by history, but so that Our Lord will be known in the world. This is what they boast, this is their pride-that we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. This is what they boast, this is their pride-that we boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

And all this while sinners.

Thank God for MLK, more than for what he did which was formidable, but in whose name he did it, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is worthy of boasting. This is worthy of pride.

Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, free at last.