The power of the sacrifice is in the cost to the person making it.
Ever since The Odyssey came out, this line has been all over the Internet.
We collectively love a good plot. We don’t want to watch the protagonist living an easy life on a beach in Ithaca. We want the betrayal, the monsters, the storms and the impossible odds. We want drama, thrill, adventure, and sacrifice.
Homer knew this and ensured The Odyssey drove home this point: greatness comes at a cost.
The Truth is more heroic than fiction
Now the Bible doesn’t argue with that idea.
Sacrifice sits at the crux of both stories. The difference is who is making the sacrifice.
The Odyssey is the story of a man fighting, suffering, and sacrificing to find his way home. The Gospel flips the script: God comes down, sacrifices Himself to bring us home.
The Greeks believed humans had to strive hard to earn the favor of the gods. The heroes become worthy through courage, strength, endurance, or brilliance. Every trial is another chance to prove themselves to their gods (who often behaved just as badly, if not worse, than the people who worship them)
But the Gospel starts from the opposite direction.
God pursues His people.
Jesus Christ gave up His lordship, became one of us, bore the brunt of our sins, and saved us, even though we did nothing to deserve it. Even though we were broken (and proud of it).
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
What a plot twist. Mythology could never.
Imagine a child wanting her father to pick her up. She can stretch out her little arms, whine and pout all she wants - but dad knows baby can’t just magically end up in his arms. He has to stoop down and lift her up to him.
This is the point that the Greeks and every other man-made religion seem to miss.
It’s not about us trying to climb up to God. It’s about accepting that we can’t do it on our own—and recognizing He came down to lift us up.
The Greatest Story Ever. Retold
Good stories never die. That’s why remakes of ancient literature are becoming box-office hits 2,000 years later.
We’re wired to admire tales of courage, perseverance, and finding one’s way back home. Because we know, deep down, that life is much more than a 9-5, eat-sleep-repeat existence.
Stories like The Odyssey remind us that life and love center around sacrifice.
The Bible tells us that Christ already made that sacrifice.
But here’s the greatest plot twist of all: We were never going to find our way home on our own. So God came looking for us.
That’s the greatest story ever told.
And unlike The Odyssey, this one actually happened.
Thanks for reading The Equally Yoked! This post is public so feel free to share it.
Or get it by email here.
