The battle of Eylau in East Prussia, 8 February, 1807 left nothing decided but littered the snow-covered ground with French, Prussian and Russian corpses. Associated with the dead were their field packs, cannons, shells, horses, muskets and swords. Napoleon wrote that the very sight of the carnage should convince rulers to seek peace, not make war.
A convenient piety. For someone accompanying him as he walked the battlefield heard him say the dead were only “simple soldiers.” More such “little people” would soon be coming to replace those now dead. Age of Napoleon, 182. Maybe he didn’t mean it as a derogation. But military leaders of the time, Wellington included, considered their troops useful only as cannon fodder. Jesus loved those “little people”: the anonymous widows others overlooked; the sin-burdened prostitutes who heard him offer forgiveness and accepted cleansing; the fishermen whom leaders considered able to feed, but never lead the nation; the aristocrats who, despite their position, understood their place as “little people” needing God’s grace. Jesus came as the Fullness of the Godhead in bodily form TO: seek every sinner; forgive everyone who admitted he needed it; raise everyone’s sights from self to God; recruit disciples willing to follow him wherever he led them and to serve wherever he placed them. The hard truth confronting everyone: we’re all “little people” to God, whatever position we occupy among men. His comforting word to us: he LOVES each as completely as he loves all, the greatest sinner being the most vigorous object of his grace. His challenging word to us: accept him as Lord and Savior, then follow him perseveringly.
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