By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 1 John 3:16

It was just a few minutes before 7 a.m. when the 14-year-old girl got on the Yazoo County, Mississippi, school bus and made her way toward the back.

She managed to get half way. That’s when she stopped; that’s when she reached into her flower-print bag; that’s when she pulled out a chrome-plated 38-caliber pistol.

Those around her said she started waving the gun, ordering the driver to pull over, shouting and threatening the other children on the bus.

That’s when Yazoo County football player Kaleb Eulls stood up and started walking toward the disturbed young lady. As Kaleb walked, in low tones, he kept repeating, “Put the gun down, put the gun down.”

The girl didn’t put the gun down, but she did look away from Kaleb. She looked away for just a second.

And that second was just what Kaleb needed.

The 6-foot, 4-inch, 255-pound football player did what he had been trained to do: he tackled that 14-year-old girl.

A second later, Kaleb was standing up with the gun in his hand — a bona fide hero.

Of course, there are times when things don’t go that way. There are times when the hero ends up dying.

That’s the way it was almost 2,000 years ago when our innocent Savior stood up against sin, death, and devil. His was a grand and gracious gift of love, an incredible act of bravery, which called for Him to be sacrificed so we might be forgiven. His life was the present that made it possible for everyone who believed on Him as Savior to be given eternal life.

Yes, sometimes these stories end up with the hero dying on a cross. Or do they end that way?

Of course, that wasn’t the end of Jesus’ story was it? Jesus’ third-day resurrection says that He is victorious. He has conquered and He is our Redeemer.

Thanks be to God!

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus I give thanks that the young man who was willing to risk his life to save others has been saved. Even more I give thanks that Your sacrifice for me has been accepted and with Your resurrection I am saved. May I live my life in a way that reflects my appreciation. In Your Name I pray it. Amen.

Pastor Ken Klaus Lutheran Hour Ministries http://www.lhm.org/ all rights reserved; not to be duplicated without permission.