Romans 9:3

In Romans 9, Paul writes, "For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh."

What a powerful statement that is. When I first read it, I thought Paul was actually saying that he would sacrifice his relationship with Christ if it meant assuring the salvation of Israel. What a testament to Paul's devotion to Israel, but what a statement on Paul's part about what he was willing to forsake. Would anyone in their right mind forsake their salvation in Jesus Christ for someone else? That salvation, the hope of mankind, the hope for every sinner, the redemption from eternal punishment and separation from God? We barely inconvenience ourselves for the people around us. Would you go to hell for someone else?

Jesus did, for us, for three days. Jesus, in fact, gave up His place with God for our salvation, in the same way Paul would have wished for the salvation of Israel at the cost of his place with God. That was different though. Jesus has a certain return to glory. The thought for Paul to be "accursed from Christ" probably meant no hope for resurrection from that separation from God.

What a thought to give up your place with God for the sake of someone else! Yet, we see a few examples in the Bible. After the episode with the golden calf in Exodus 32, Moses pleads with God, "Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin -- but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book, which You have written."

I don't think that Paul actually dared to wish that he could exchange his salvation for that of Israel's. He knew it wasn't possible for his sacrifice to cover an entire nation's, and he knew that his sacrifice would be no assurance of anyone's salvation. His words are "I could wish" express a strong desire, rather than a literal meaning, in the same sense that "I could kill him, I'm so angry" doesn't really mean that I want to or intend to kill anyone. Paul's words simply communicate a strong passionate wish for the salvation of Israel and a personal commitment and investment.

The story that really helps me visualize this sort of sacrificial love is in Mark 2. It's not clear why four men are carrying the paralytic to see Jesus; it's not clear if they're friends, or the four men found the paralytic on the periphery of the crowd, or if the paralytic made the request, or if the four men were simply proactive in love. But I think it's reasonable to think that those four guys could've pushed through the crowd to see Jesus for themselves, and left that guy outside. "Sorry, but seeing Jesus is really important to me, and I'm not willing to give that chance up. I'm really sorry, but I'm going to have to leave you outside." How often do we say that our individual pursuit of Jesus is the most important thing in our lives? But here we see four men risking their chance to see Jesus to help the chances of the paralytic.

It helps to know that Jesus loves and blesses and rewards that kind of sacrifice. It helps to know that it isn't really possible to lose our salvation in pursuing the salvation of others. But that strong love and desire for others to see God will take sacrifice, and it's verses like Romans 9:3 that make you stop and think about what you'd be willing to give up for the sake of other people.