Towards the close of the 18th century Persia was governed by a Turcoman king, Kurreen Khan, who was perhaps one of the best kings the Persians ever had.
One day he heard that twelve men had been robbed, and murdered under the very walls of Shirar. The criminals for a long time could not be discovered; but the king gave strict orders to the officers of justice not to give up the search.
At last it transpired that the crime had been committed by some of Kurreen Khan's own tribe who at that, time had been encamped near Shirar. Their guilt was clearly proved, and all those who were actually engaged in the murder were sentenced to be put to death.
The king would not listen to any intercession for their pardon; for he had vowed that the guilty must all die. That they were of his own tribe made him the more severe.
When the criminals were brought out to receive sentence, there was among them a youth about twenty years old whose appearance much interested the spectators. How sad that one so young and well favored should die! Their anxiety was increased to pain when they saw the father of the young man rush forward and demand to speak with the king. He was allowed to do so, and said: "Kurreen Khan, you have sworn that these guilty men should die. It is just. But I, who am not guilty, come here to demand a boon of my chief. My son is young. He has hardly tasted the sweets of life. He is just betrothed in marriage. He has been deluded and led into crime; his life is forfeit: I come to die in his stead. Oh, be merciful!
Let me, an old worn-out man, perish, and spare this youth that may long be useful to his tribe! Let him live to drink the waters and till the ground of his ancestors."
The king was deeply moved at the old man's appeal, but could he pardon such an offence? No. The crime was Murder; and to check that crime in the country over which he ruled it was requisite that a terrible example should be made. One must die! With feelings very different from ours of justice, he granted the father's prayer, and the old man went rejoicing and thankful to his doom. The old man died that his son might live.
If parental love led the old man to give his life for the sake of his son, divine love led God, the offended God, to give up His dear Son. And love led that Son to come down to die for sinners, to lay down His precious life for His very enemies. The Lord Jesus "once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." (1 Peter 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18).) Oh, reader, remember that the way to God is by the death of His Son!