ONE Friday afternoon in September 1869, Albert Drecker went to close the drawbridge over the Passaic River, for a train of the New York and Newark Railroad to cross. His little boy of ten years old came running at his side, and playing on the bridge. While the watchman was engaged closing the bridge, he heard a scream, and saw his child fall into the deep water beneath. At this moment the train was not in sight, owing to a curve in the line, but he heard it already near at hand, and knew that no time must be lost. To save the boy’s life would have been an easy matter; but the whistle of the train made it evident that the rescue of his child would involve the loss of many lives that were in his hands. What was he to do?
We may well suppose it was a moment of supreme agony! His child was drowning before his eyes, but Drecker stood to his post; he did his duty, and the train passed’ safely over. But what was left for him? His darling child was drowned.
With an overwhelmed heart, the father stole down to the brink of the river, and drew to him the lifeless body of his child. And then, what a sight to meet a loving mother’s eyes, as he bore in his arms the precious burden! But the train passed on; the passengers were safe.
Our hearts are thrilled as we picture this scene. But what is it to that all-surpassing scene which happened at Calvary rather more than eighteen hundred years ago. The actors in that scene were God and Christ for the world. And by it, “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)).
This was the great question―Shall the people who have brought just wrath upon them on account of their sins―shall they be damned in hell-fire, or shall God’s own Son’ bear the judgment due to them? Indeed, faint is the story of Drecker when you think what it cost God the Father to give His Son. With the one it was a point of duty; but with God, it was unsought grace. Oh! what a sacrifice was the Lamb of God’s providing when God “spared not his own Son.” Hear that cry in Gethsemane― “O my Father! if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” That cry was heard in heaven; that cry was heard by the Father who delighted in His Son, and angels came and ministered unto Him. But if you were to be saved, if you were to go to heaven, there was no other way than that Christ should drink that bitter cup―that was the cup of wrath, full for you, the just reward of your deeds; but Jesus took it, Jesus drank it, Jesus drank it to the very dregs when the billows of divine wrath against our sin swept over His soul, and He cried, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” Thus He suffered and died, that all who believe on Him might be saved.
ANON.