Greater Love Hath No Man Than This

On February 19, 1945, American Marines invaded the small Pacific island of Iwo Jima. As they landed on the beach and began their painstaking grind across the island, casualties quickly mounted. Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz said, “Among the Americans who served on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue.” Private First Class Donald J. Ruhl displayed that uncommon valor. During the fight for Mount Suribachi, Ruhl and his platoon guide climbed to the top of a Japanese bunker to direct fire on enemy troops. A grenade landed between the two marines. Ruhl yelled a warning and dove on the explosive, saving the life of his sergeant. Private Ruhl showed with his sacrifice that, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). But what about sacrificing your life to save an enemy? The Bible says, “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet … for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth [showed] his love toward us, in