In its weekend debut, the movie “The Hunger Games,” which is an adaptation of Suzanne Collin’s book came in as the third-best opening till date, surpassing expectations and pulling in $155 million. Hunger Games is a story of love and survival. Set in a future where the Capitol selects a boy and girl from the twelve districts to fight to the death on live television, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister’s (Primrose’s) place for the latest match. One of the tag lines in the movie is the saying of Katniss, where she says “I volunteer! I volunteer as Tribute!”

Come to think of it, as we reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, this saying is not very different from what Jesus Christ, the one who personifies Love, has demonstrated. When God who is Just  required that the soul that sins must die (Ezekiel 18:3), as the tribute of sin is death (Romans 6:23), Jesus volunteered to take the place of every man and woman (Philippians 2:6-7), willingly offering his life for ours (John 10:18). By doing so, Jesus vanquished the devil by his death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:26,55). In other words, when God asked, “Who shall be the acceptable sacrifice for sin?”, Jesus stepped in to say, “I volunteer, I volunteer as Tribute!”.

Points to ponder:
Jesus volunteered to give his life so we may live. Can you/I volunteer to give our life to Jesus so that we may live? Are you and I willing to say, “I volunteer, I volunteer as Tribute!”

Philippians 2:5-11 (KJV)
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

John 10:17-18 (KJV)
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.