“ON one of the bridges of Ghent, in Flanders, are two bronze statues. They represent a father and son, and are memorials of a mutual affection. On account of some grave political offense both were condemned to die by the headsman's axe. Such was the popular esteem in which they were held that an executioner could not be found.
“A strange proposition was made them, that one should have his life by becoming the executioner of the other. The proposal was hailed with a melancholy pleasure by both, because each saw how one life at least could be saved. The son urged the father to accept the terms, as he could die happy, since in that way his father's life would be spared. The father urged the son to accept the terms. He spoke of his own life as soon to end at any rate, but the son had youth on his side and long life before him.
“By earnest entreaties the father prevailed; the son consented. The day of execution came. A vast multitude had assembled to witness the strange sight. There was the horrid scaffold, with its block and broad ax. Father and son are there, the one to be beheaded by the other. The father kneels, places his neck on the wood, and awaits the fatal stroke, which shall sever the gray head from the body. The son, with pale face and wild look, seizes the ax and lifts it with trembling hand.
“He strikes—No! he flings the deadly weapon from his hand, and falls on the bare neck of his father, bathing it with filial tears, and exclaiming, No, no, my father, we die together.'
“The vast crowd, whose feelings were strung to the highest pitch, gave vent to their admiration in the wildest applause, and demanded their pardon, a pardon which was not only granted, but which was followed up by the artist's genius in the rearing of the memorial of the noble act of mutual affection.”
As I read the above touching account the words, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man should lay down his life for his FRIENDS," came into my mind, words which carried one's mind back to a scene that far outshines the most touching tale of earth.
The father and son of our story were indeed friends, and strong natural affection urged them to the course they took. But divine love goes further than that. Oh! how divinely commended is God's love.
“God commendeth His love towards us, in that, while we were yet SINNERS, Christ died for us," (Rom. 5:8.)
I once heard a sermon preached from the words of David as he lamented Jonathan's death, "Thy love to me was wonderful." The preacher put the words into the Christian's mouth as referring to the Lord Jesus.
"Thy love to me was wonderful," because of who it is that loves. For the Lord Jesus, the Son of God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, to put His love upon sinners is indeed wonderful. Yes, He died for all; He died for you, just as much as He did for the Apostle Paul. He "gave Himself a ransom FOR ALL.” (1 Tim. 2:6.)
"Thy love to one was wonderful," because of who it is that is loved. Rom. 5 gives a four-fold description of such.
1. WITHOUT STRENGTH (verse 6).
2. UNGODLY (verse 6).
3. SINNERS (verse 8).
4. ENEMIES (verse 10).
It is indeed wonderful that He should love such.
Naturally we love those we can respect and admire. Let the respect be deep enough and the admiration strong enough love will spring up.
But look at divine love. See that howling mob around the cross. The people, the rulers; the led and the leaders; the soldiers, the malefactors; the executioners, and those about to be executed—alike unite in reviling the dying Savior. Listen to His prayer, efficacious then, efficacious now: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
Was ever love like this for wretches such as we?
1. “Without strength."—Sin paralyzes. This is true physically and spiritually. Does not sin end in death with all? And is not death absolute and final paralysis? And what happens physically happens spiritually. “Dead trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1) truly characterizes the unsaved. It follows, then, that such can do nothing towards their own salvation. All their efforts cannot procure it, nor bring them one hair's-breadth nearer to it. So we read in the same chapter, "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." (Verses 8, 9.)
So if you wish to be saved you must come God's way, as a poor, empty-handed, strength-less sinner, and learn that the Lord Jesus has done all the work of atonement, has satisfied God as to sin, and that He is now "Just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." (Rom. 3:26.)
2. "Ungodly" means without God. We often use the word as if it only referred to the base and vile. It indeed refers to all unconverted people. Such may be religious and yet ungodly, that is without God. They know about Him, but there is no seeking Him. How many are religious merely because it is fashionable, or because their Sunday observances whitewash for them the worldliness of the week. This cannot be called seeking after God. Yet for such Christ died.
3. “Sinners." Ah! here is a description that all will admit. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23); as indeed it is the testimony of all by experience. All admit that they are sinners and that something is necessary to make them fit for God's presence. Sin is an awful reality. It is not a question of being big sinners or little sinners. Just as surely as big sinners and little sinners die alike, so surely will they be judged. Once I truly grasp this simple fact, I must surely take my place as such, as one for whom Christ died.
4. “Enemies." Surely God's love is indeed commended. Not to His friends alone, but to His enemies, are the blessings of the gospel offered. The divine commission, consequent on the death and resurrection of Christ, runs, "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM." (Luke 24:47.)
Yes, to begin at Jerusalem, the city of His enemies, His murderers. The place where they crucified Him. What! the gospel to be proclaimed to the soldier who pierced His side? To those who drove the nails through His hands and feet? To those who spat in His face, and plucked the hair off His cheek? To the High Priests and Rulers who voiced the frenzied cry of hate, “Away with Him! Crucify Him!"? Yes! Yes!! A thousand times Yes!
"His love to me was wonderful," because of the infinite cost necessary for its expression. Was ever love commended as God's love has been at the cross? The father and son in our story were pardoned; a ram was provided in the thicket for Isaac, and Abraham's heart was spared the anguish of slaying his son, but the Lord Jesus went on to the cross with all its scorn and shame. God indeed forsook His Son, when sin was marked upon His holy soul. The very anticipation of the ordeal wrung from Him, as it were, drops of blood, falling to the ground. What must the reality have been? No tongue can tell! No thought can grasp!
If such a death was necessary that divine justice should be satisfied we can well see that nothing that we can do can save our souls; and if He, who died, exclaimed, "IT IS FINISHED," and God has proved His satisfaction as to the work by raising Him from the dead and giving Him glory, then we can understand how unnecessary it is for the sinner to add his sin-stained doings to such a work.
“It is finished.' Yes, indeed,
Finished every jot.
Sinner, this is all you need,
Tell me, is it not”
No wonder that the solemn question is asked, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" There can be none.
Reader, say, Is not divine love well commended? Will you any longer say it nay?
Will you not rather open your heart and receive the message? You need the gospel. Without it you are poor indeed.
Will you, dare you, pass out of this world without Christ? Where will your soul wander if it is denied entrance to heaven? None enter those gates but sinners saved by grace. That class, and that alone, can enter. Do you belong to it?
If not, will you not turn to the Lord at once? "Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation." (2 Cor. 6:2.)
The day of salvation fasts draws to its close. The sorrows of endless night already cast their warning shadows across your path. Oh! pay heed to this message. It may be the last put into your hand.
May God give you to receive the message. “God commend eth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US." May the Lord indeed give the reader to say as the writer can say through grace," His love to me was wonderful." A. J. P.