Getting a Little Philosophical

“…[T]he ultimate sacrifice isn’t death after all; the ultimate sacrifice is willingly bearing the fullest penalty for your own actions.” - Orson Scott Card, from A Planet Called Treason

Thinking about this: wouldn't the greatest sacrifice actually be willingly bearing the fullest penalty for someone else's actions, when yours would bring no penalty at all?

Hmm. Who has already done this? Jesus Christ's redemptive work on the cross paying the penalty, even to death, not just for one person's sin, or a few people's sins, but for all is the greatest sacrifice. Of this there can be no question.

Even for science fiction authors.

And one more quote from the same book:

“Even death will be good, I think, not because it ends old bitterness, but because I believe it will come as the last of the many sharp tastes that have taught me I am alive.”