ONE day, late in December, when a large store was full of customers, an accident which occurred to one of the lights in the window set the place on fire. The crowd rushed wildly out, and the fire spread to the upper stories in a few moments.
A young man appeared at a top floor window, and the firemen quickly raised a ladder to rescue him. But instead of climbing out himself he immediately disappeared, and a minute later helped a girl on to the ladder and she soon was in safety on the ground. The flames began to leap out around the ladder, scorching the firemen at the bottom, but the young man disappeared again and lifted still another girl to the ladder, from which she fell part way down—but was safe.
Then the man suddenly threw up his arms and fell backwards into the burning building—he gave his own life to save two others.
This is but a faint picture of what the Lord Jesus did when He died on Calvary’s cross for us, His enemies. They said, of Him, when He hung on the cross, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save.” Matt. 27:4242He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. (Matthew 27:42). No, He could not, WOULD not, save Himself. He came to DIE that we who believe in Him might live.
“Himself He could not save,
He on the cross must die,
Or mercy cannot come,
To ruined sinners nigh;
Yes, Christ the Son of God, must bleed, That sinners might from sin be freed.”
Messages of the Love of God 1/11/1948