IT was a time of war, and England had sent her armies over sea to try to check the power of France. Many acts of heroism were performed, and we would tell again the story of one noble deed.
An English officer, accompanied by a soldier, was reconnoitering one day, when by mistake he rode up to a small body of French cavalry. The Frenchmen were dismounted, but on recognizing the officer’s rank, they quickly mounted and started in pursuit. The two English soldiers might yet have escaped had not some more of the enemy’s soldiers cut off their retreat.
“Your only chance, Colonel,” said the orderly, “is to make for that ravine.”
But the ravine was narrow, and there was room for only one horse to enter. The Colonel gained the opening in safety, but turning round beheld a terrible sight. The devoted soldier, in order to gain time for the officer to escape, had placed himself across the entrance of the ravine, and thus nobly he fell under the enemy’s sword.
We applaud such a deed, and yet it but faintly reminds us of a much greater act of love, an act far above the deed we have recorded, even as the heavens are far above the earth.
The soldier’s life was sacrificed to save a life of greater value. But what shall we say of the love that led the Son of God to lay down His life? He stooped to become man, and died that He might save those that were not only infinitely His inferiors, but that were also His deadly enemies. Such love as this passes all understanding.
Yes, the Lord Jesus left His home of love to become a man and tread this cold and dreary world. He who had ever been used to command, learned “obedience by the things which he suffered.” The object of His Father’s love, He became the object of man’s scorn and hatred. He was the “Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Through such a pathway He went on to Gethsemane and to Calvary. At the cross He suffered not only at the hand of man, but also at the hand of God. His soul was made an offering for sin. He “became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Thus He suffered that He might save man from the consequences of sin.
“Sin’s bitter judgment He bore on the tree,
Dying to save, dying to save;
So that the sinner might justly go free,
His precious blood Jesus gave.”
Now God has highly exalted the Lord Jesus, and from heaven He sends to man the message of His love.
Dear reader, have you ever thanked the Lord Jesus for the work He did upon the cross? Can you say, “He loved me, and gave himself for me”? If you cannot say this, we beseech you not to spurn His love any longer. He desires to bless you, to make known His love to you. Oh let the story of His love draw you to His feet. Then will you hear Him say, “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.”
M. L. B.