I remember reading a story, a true story I think, of an incident which occurred during a war many, many years ago. It was about a certain prince, named Seuthes, who lived in a country called Thrace. Now this prince had hired same Greek soldiers to fight for him and his army decided to attack some villages. The order was given that no mercy was to be shown to any of the people who were taken prisoners. Among the Greek soldiers was a man who was very fond of boys, and when he saw among the captives a handsome boy about to be put to death, he ran as quickly as he could to the leader of the Greek soldiers and pleaded earnestly that the life of this lad should be spared. The Greek general, impressed by the soldier’s earnest pleading, took them both to the prince, and the general begged Prince Seuthes to spare the boy for the soldier’s sake. The prince turned to the soldier and asked him: “Would you even be willing to die for this boy’s sake?” The soldier just stretched his neck forward a little and replied, “Strike, if the lad bids you and is grateful.” Yes, this soldier was willing even to die for the one whose tender looks had so attracted him. The prince was very gracious and spared both the soldier and the lad, and we may be, sure that he was very impressed indeed by the noble action of the soldier.
Now, dear reader, as you read this story, does it not remind you of One who came into the world willing even to die, in order that poor guilty sinners might not perish but have everlasting life? The Lord Jesus Christ loved not only boys, but girls also and men and women too, when there was nothing attractive about any of them. In fact it was the very opposite with us, for we read in the Word of God “that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” and that “when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:6, 86For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)
8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8). Yes, Jesus died upon the cross at Calvary and there He bore the judgment of God against sin that we might never come into judgment but that we might live with Him forever. Can you say, “He died that I might live?”
Such was the wonderful love of the blessed Son of God, and He who once died has risen again, and now is in glory, a Prince and a Saviour, willing and able to save.
ML 11/21/1954