The French Policeman Hero

Lt. Col. Arnaud Beltrame is a hero. On March 24, he was one of the first police officers to arrive on the scene of a hostage-taking situation in Trèbes, France. A member of elite special forces, he had trained for such a scenario. During the standoff, he bargained with the terrorist to be switched with a female hostage. He was shot and died later in the hospital. Another act of heroism is that he left his cell phone on, hidden, so that police outside could listen to what was going on inside. When shots were fired, they closed in and killed the terrorist. Beltrame has been honored for his heroism and will receive the Legion of Honor posthumously. A relative said, “He always put others first.” One can only imagine the gratefulness of that female hostage and her family.

The Bible says, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). In this case, M. Beltrame didn’t know the woman he exchanged himself for. He is a hero and fully deserves the honor his country paid him.

The comparison with Jesus comes to mind. Even as great as Lt. Col. Arnaud Beltrame’s act of courage was, Jesus’ sacrifice was infinitely greater.

Jesus was:

A perfect man. All God, all man. No one else has been both God and man.

• And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35).
• Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am (Luke 22:70).
• And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss (Luke 23:41).
• For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
• Knowingly, willingly paying the price for all the sins of mankind (1 Peter 3:18).
• As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father (John 10:15, 17-18).

God’s eternal plan for redemption.

• Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God (1 Peter 1:18-21).

Crucified on a cross—one of the cruelest executions—and for a totally innocent Person.

• And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:8).

Conscious that His sacrifice would save many people.

• But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings (Hebrews 2:9-10).
• So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation (Hebrews 9:28).
• And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).

Jesus gave Himself for you.

Have you personally accepted His gift of salvation?

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12).

Knowing Jesus’ as one’s personal Savior from sin is the greatest decision anyone can make. This is why Jesus’ died on the cross. This is why He was buried and rose again.

If you aren’t sure if you know Him, I encourage you to consider His gift of eternal life today. If you do know the Lord, you can thank Him for what He has done for you. He deserves our most profound thanks.