This morning I came across the name Jason Dunham and spent a few minutes reading about his life and death. In 2004, Dunham was a twenty-two year-old Corporal in the United States Marine Corps, serving in Iraq. He became the first Marine since 1970 to earn the Medal of Honor—the nation’s highest award for battlefield heroism—for actions in combat.
On April 14, 2004, he was manning a checkpoint near Karabilah when an Iraqi man whose car they were searching, suddenly grabbed his throat. As Dunham wrestled the man to the ground, the Iraqi dropped a grenade with the pin removed. Aware of the imminent danger and without hesitation, Corporal Dunham covered the grenade with his helmet and body, bearing the brunt of the explosion and shielding his Marines from the blast. He saved the lives of several of his fellow soldiers. Dunham died of his wounds just a few days later without ever regaining consciousness.
The official Marine Corps citation says, “By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty, Corporal Dunham gallantly gave his life for his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.”
Such gallantry is amazing, inspiring. It should awe us that a man would so selflessly give all he had for his friends.
And yet what Christ did was greater still. As William Farley says in Outrageous Mercy, “At the cross God threw himself on a grenade to save the enemy soldiers…” We would not wish to downplay the gallantry of Corporal Dunham who made the ultimate sacrifice. But neither can we escape the fact that Jesus Christ died for those who were not his friends, but his enemies. What love this is! Even in the greatest of human sacrifices we see just a pale reflection of the depth, the magnitude, of the sacrifice of the Son of God.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Comments (7) »
1. Jody
May 8, 2009
9:58 AM
As I read this post I think of my own 22 year old son who just received orders on Monday to report for duty on June 7. This came as a shock as he is a civilian in the reserves and you just never think it will happen to you. He is proud to serve his country and has been trained to do so. And God is giving this mother His peace that I don’t understand, it will be difficult but God is always good and sovereign, knowing he goes with my son and our family. Above all thanking God my Father that he sent His son into enemy territory to die for me.
2. Sean
May 8, 2009
10:15 AM
Thank you to all the service men and women who serve our country and, with all thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Ken
May 8, 2009
12:01 PM
I come from a long line of family who date back to the American Revolution serving America in uniform. My great grandfather and all five of his brothers served in the Confederate Army for Georgia. My father and uncle served in WW II and my uncle did not make it. My brother did two tours of Vietnam. I have a son in law in Iraq right now.
I receintly watched a video of Medal of Honor winners. One elderly man in particular who received the MoH during WW II was talking about his incident. One could still see the pain in this brave man’s eyes, upon his face, even after nearly 70 years. It was moving to the point that I cried.
As a fire fighter of 30 years I can only imagine what these brave souls have seen because I know the things I have seen and done in my career are burned into my memory banks, things I will never forget and they are nothing compared to what these men have seen and had to do.
We owe our soldiers everything. We should give them so much more than we do as a nation because if it were not for them we would all be speaking German or Japanese. Our veterans saved the world twice. These are the true heros, the ones our nation is built upon and the disrespect that is channeled from Washington these days towards our Constitution and way of life that these brave men have fought and died for is nothing short of reprehensible. As one very much in the public eye recently said: “I have never before been proud of my country.” I will counter that by saying that I have never been more ashamed.
Praise God that He is a forgiving God and that through Jesus Christ one day this will all be made new.
4. Lisa Nunley
May 8, 2009
3:20 PM
tears… lots of them. Inspiring story and I really appreciate how you brought in the story of the ultimate sacrifice. The very Son of God.
5. donsands
May 8, 2009
4:09 PM
Wonderful young Marine. I hope he is with our Lord.
“Jesus Christ died for those who were not his friends, but his enemies.”
And Jesus also died for His friends, who were His enemies at one time.
I imagine our Lord was fully motivated to drink the cup of wrath for the love of His Father, and in another way, He was motivated for His friends, like Abraham, Peter, and John. And all who would be recipients of His death for their sins, for the gift of eternal life.
6. Dan H.
May 9, 2009
12:24 PM
Very inspiring Tim…
John 15:13 (NIV) Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Amen…!
Dan…
7. Renee
May 25, 2009
8:37 PM
Tim,
Thanks for making that distinction. While you are right, that we do not want to diminish this very brave man’s courageous act, it is a perfect context to point out that it is but a tincture of what God through Jesus has done for us.