From death to life: Saved by Jesus twice

Every Easter, we remember a story of sacrifice and new life. For one woman, it became personal. She didn’t believe in Jesus – until the moment someone took a bullet for her.

Not only did that sacrifice save her life but it changed her heart.

She was saved twice: Once from physical death, and once from spiritual darkness.

This Easter, her story is a reminder that Jesus still changes lives.

Mahsa* is an Iranian Christian living abroad who finally managed to make a brief call with a fellow believer inside Iran. She had been bracing herself, expecting difficult news. Instead, what she heard filled her with unexpected hope.

“It had been more than 20 days of waiting, I had no idea what I would hear from my brothers and sisters nor how I could possibly encourage them,” she shares.

When her phone rang, Mahsa’s heart raced. The moment she answered, she heard Leila’s* voice bright, urgent, and full of joy. “We are all safe,” Leila said quickly. “I don’t know how long I can talk, but I need to tell you, God is moving. Even in these dark days, He is after people’s hearts.”

Leila continued to share a beautiful testimony with Mahsa, with a voice so steady but full of wonder…

“Before the war, I shared about Jesus with a friend. She heard the Gospel, but she wasn’t interested. After the protests, I saw her again and this time, she told me she wanted to accept Jesus as her Lord and Saviour. Surprised, I had asked her ‘Why?’ and she told me a short story. During the protests, when the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces began shooting people on the streets, someone she didn’t even know stepped in front of her, becoming her shield. He took the bullet, and she survived. In that moment, when this stranger gave his life for me, she heard Jesus speaking to her, the voice said: ‘This is how I gave My life to save you to give you eternal life.’”

Listening to what Leila shared, Mahsa was deeply moved. She had been wondering how she could encourage and strengthen her people from afar. Now, this call reminded her the Emmanuel is there.

“Even when I cannot be there,” she reflects, “God is there. He is saving lives, reaching hearts, and turning even the most horrific situations into moments of salvation. He has His ways.”

The entire phone call lasted only a few minutes but it was enough to remind Mahsa that God is still at work and in control.

Mahsa’s faith was strengthened and she was encouraged, when she expected to be the one that needs to encourage!

“Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (John 13:1).

As persecuted Christians gather around the world to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus, pray that His love will comfort them in their suffering. Pray that this would help them love their persecutors.