His life was about much more than His death

1 John 3:16  "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."

When we read this verse, specifically the phrase "laid down" in reference to what Jesus has done for us, we naturally focus on Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross.  We read the next part of the verse and the natural conclusion is that we should be willing to "die" for our brothers.

The note in my study Bible, though, make a very interesting (and I believe true) observation.  It says the following:

"Sometimes it is easier to say we will die for others than to truly live for them."

We focus so much on Jesus' death and the provision of salvation that I believe we shortchange Jesus' sacrificial life.  Jesus didn't teach us about sacrificial love only through His crucifiction and physical death.  His entire life on earth is a lesson in sacrificial living and love.

Jesus didn't live as He wanted and solely following His own desires.  He didn't suddenly become the picture of perfect sacrificial love when He was nailed to the cross.  That event was a culmination to the sacrificial way in which He lived.

I believe we as Christians are too focused on Jesus' death and what it means for us than on His life and what it means for us.  The study note is right- it may be easier to make a single sacrificial decision that results in the end of your physical life on behalf of others than to wake up every single morning and die to your own selfish desires on behalf of others.

Jesus not only died to give us eternal life, but He lived to show us how to best serve God and others during our earthly lives.