FROM THE BARREL OF MY PEN
By Gonzalo “Jun” Policarpio


GOD’S WAY OF SALVATION: SHEDDING OF BLOOD


Salvation has only one cost: the shedding of blood by the Savior. This is true both in the spiritual sense as well as in the material sense.

On a Good Friday, more or less than two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ of Nazareth shed his blood at the cross on Mt. Golgotha in the Old City of Jerusalem to save mankind from eternal death. We, Christians all over the world, worshipped Him as our Lord and Savior and looked forward to an eternal life in Heaven.

In this material world, so many proclaimed heroes and martyrs shed their blood to save a nation, a family, a friend, even an enemy from physical death. The Philippines has Jose Rizal and Benigno Aquino Jr; America has Abraham Lincoln and Captain Nathan Hale; Spain has Martin Diaz; and France has Joan of Arc.

It is indeed very hard to comprehend why one has to shed blood before being considered s a hero and martyr. Yet it would be easier to understand if we look at the element of love as the cause for martyrdom. One can really sacrifice his or her life for someone or something loved. Without love, there is no sacrifice; without sacrifice, there is no love.

Everything boils down to love as the main ingredient for martyrdom or heroism. For God in Heaven is Love that He sacrificed His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the Cross for the salvation of His creation. I only speak to those who believe in Jesus Christ as the Savior of mankind in writing this article. I pray that those who do not may finally understand the meaning of God’s Way of Salvation.