There is a movie called “We Were Soldiers.” It is based on the true story of the Battle of Ia Drang in Vietnam, which took place in November 1965. Mel Gibson played the role of Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore, and his famous ‘No one left behind’ speech, delivered before his men boarded the air-assault helicopters, is well-known. The gist of the speech is as follows: “I can’t promise you that I will bring you all home alive, or that I will bring you all home at all. But I can promise you this: that when we step into the operational area, I will be the first one to step onto the ground. And I will be the last one to step onto the helicopter when we leave the operational area. I will leave no one behind. Live or dead, we will all come home.” It was a truly stirring speech. Soldiers who hear a speech from a leader like this would be able to follow him in any dangerous mission without turning back.
The main passage today features a declaration that is the complete opposite of this speech. “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come” (John 8:21, NIV). This was Jesus’ word to the Pharisees and the Jews. It might be the most tragic statement among all of Jesus’ words. It means that after Jesus leaves, they will be utterly left behind and tragically abandoned. Why did Jesus speak such a cold and harsh word?
In truth, Jesus’ heart desired to leave no one behind. “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day” (John 6:39, NIV). Jesus knew this was the will of God the Father from the beginning of His ministry. And just before His arrest, He said this: “This was to fulfill the word he had spoken: “I have not lost one of those you gave me” (John 18:9, NIV). While the direct interpretation of this saying may be that Jesus intended to protect His disciples by letting only Himself be arrested, the spiritual meaning contained within this word is much broader. It embraces all of humanity. The Lord desired to save everyone, leaving no one behind. Yet, there are people who are left behind, regardless of the Lord’s intent.
Jesus Christ is the Savior, meaning the One who saves. The Savior is an urgently needed benefactor for those who need salvation, but He is not an attractive figure at all to those who do not know or refuse to acknowledge that they need salvation. Thus, no matter how much the Savior calls and invites, they do not listen. It is not the Lord who abandons them, but they are left behind by their persistent rejection of the invitation of grace. Whenever they asked, “Who are you?” the Lord answered, “I am he” (verses 24, 28). (The Korean Saebeonyeok translates this as “I am who I am,” but most other translations render it as “I am he”). He repeatedly told them that He was the Christ, the Savior, but they did not listen.
This cold and harsh word in verse 21 is the Savior’s sorrowful warning that He could not help but speak, as the inevitable end was so obvious. It is the desperate invitation of the Savior who desires to leave no one behind. Lieutenant Colonel Moore promised to bring everyone home, live or dead, leaving no one behind. This promise includes return home but not life itself. Furthermore, this is a promise that Lieutenant Colonel Moore can keep only if he himself survives. However, our Savior promised to lose none and raise them all up on the last day. Resurrection and eternal life are all within that promise. And our Savior gave up His own life to keep this promise. Therefore, following the Lord is incomparably more glorious than following Lieutenant Colonel Moore. No one will be left behind, except for those who choose to leave themselves.