Christ is that golden pipe, through which the golden oil of salvation is transmitted to us.
Nothing could fasten Jesus to the cross, but the golden link of love!
"Because of His great love that He had for us" (Ephesians 2:4) The emperor Trajan tore off a piece of his own robe to bind up one of his soldier's wounds. But Christ tore off His own flesh for us!
"He gave Himself for us to redeem us." (Titus 2:14) Christ gave Himself for us what more could He give? If He had anything to part with of more worth, He would have bestowed it upon us!
What astonishing love, that Christ should die for such as we are.
What are we? Not only vanity but enmity!
When we were rebelling, He was dying!
When we had weapons in our hands, then He had the spear in His side!
This is the very quintessence of love! "God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us!" (Romans 5:8) When we were engulfed in misery and had lost our beauty, then Christ died for us.
O amazing love, which should swallow up all our thoughts!
What astonishing love, that Christ should die for us, rather than for the fallen angels. They were creatures of a more noble extraction and, in all probability, might have brought greater revenues of glory to God. Yet, that Christ should pass by those golden vessels, and make us 'clods of earth' into 'stars of glory' O the hyperbole of Christ's love!
What a stupendous love is this!
Who can meditate upon His love, and not be in ecstasy!
We may behold the odiousness of sin, in the red-looking glass of Christ's sufferings. Sin is to be abominated, since it turned Adam out of paradise and threw the angels down to Hell. Sin is the birthplace of our sorrows, and the grave of our comforts. But that which may most of all disfigure the face of sin and make it appear abominable is this: It crucified our Lord Jesus!
O let us look upon sin with indignation! When a temptation to sin comes, let us say, "Is not this the sin which poured out Christ's blood?" Let our hearts be enraged against sin!
When the senators of Rome showed the people Caesar's bloody robe, they were incensed against those who slew him. Sin has rent the white robe of Christ's flesh and dyed it a crimson color! Let us, then, seek to be avenged of our sins!
Under the Law, if an ox gored a man so that he died the ox was to be killed. (Exodus 21:28) Likewise sin has gored and pierced our Savior! Let it die!
Let us be deeply affected with the great love of Christ for us.
Who can tread upon these hot coals, and his heart not burn? Cry out with Ignatius, "Christ, my love, is crucified!"
If a friend would die for us, would not our hearts be much affected with his kindness? That the God of Heaven would die for us--how should this stupendous mercy have a melting influence upon us! The body of Christ broken, is enough to break the flintiest heart! At our Savior's passion, "the rocks split apart!" He who is not affected with Christ's love, has a heart harder than the rocks!
How should we be affected with Christ's kindness, who, to spare our life, lost His own! Let us pray that, as Christ was fastened to the cross so He may be fastened to our hearts!
[Thomas Watson]
Ephesians 3:19 ... And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
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