Many years ago there was a notorious highway robber in the southern part of Scotland, known far and wide as “John o’ the Score.” After carrying on his dishonest practices for many years, he met a poor man traveling with two horses, which he took from him. The countryman, falling down on his knees, earnestly begged him “for Jesus Christ’s sake” to return one of them, as they were his sole means of livelihood, and he had a wife and family. It was all in vain; the thief was obdurate and carried off both the horses.
Not long after a great change took place in Score. He became restless and unhappy unable to sleep and careless of his personal safety. The only reason he gave for the difference was that he could not forget the words the countryman had used “for Jesus Christ’s sake,” although he was so ignorant he did not know whom he meant by “Jesus Christ.” He had never heard that name before but he could not forget it. So wretched and careless did he become that when he knew the officers of the Crown were on his track he told his sons to seek safety, but could not himself flee.
There was a seeming restraint on him that prevented him from leaving his house. He was apprehended, taken to Edinburgh, tried, convicted and sentenced to death. While in prison he was visited by a godly minister and a Christian gentleman who had known something of him years before. They pointed out to him his danger as a lost sinner, not only condemned to meet death by the law of the land, but beyond that the SECOND DEATH, even the lake of fire, at the hand of a holy God; and they urged him to “flee at once to Jesus Christ.”
No sooner had they uttered that name, which is above every name, than Score exclaimed: “Oh, what word is that? It has been the word that has lain upon my heart ever since the poor man spoke it, so that from that time I had no power to flee!”
Simply and tenderly they told the condemned criminal who He is whose name had had such an effect on him, the holy Son of God who became Man in order to atone for sin—even for such sins as his; they told of His crucifixion, and of His resurrection, and that by Him alone could he be saved, for “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
“Oh,” he exclaimed, “will He ever look at me, am! show me mercy, who for His sake would not show mercy to that poor man, and give him back his horse?”
“But God, who is rich in mercy” is “rich unto all that call upon Him,” and He delights to show grace to the most unlikely and most unworthy. Not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace has He saved us; and according to the same glorious standard. He saved poor Score.
“Christ Jesus come into the world to save sinners,” even such as he; and the Holy Spirit, who had brought home to him the power of the name of Jesus in so remarkable a way, brought home to him, too, the saving power of that name, and the poor condemned thief knew that God for Christ’s sake had forgiven I him.
A wonderful change came over him and when he was led out to the scaffold erected in the public street, he confessed before all what the grace of God had done for him, how the precious blood of Christ had atoned for his sins, and that he was passing into the presence of God knowing they were all forgiven “for Jesus Christ’s sake.”
Surely, dear friends, the story of redeeming love ought to melt our hard hearts. Before God none of us are any better than poor “John o’ the Score,” “For all have sinned.” Rom. 4:2424But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; (Romans 4:24). The condemned thief on the cross confessed to his companion, “we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this Man hall done nothing amiss.” Luke 23:4141And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. (Luke 23:41). His faith laid hold upon the love of Hire who hung upon that center cross and he could say, “Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.” Sweet words they must have been to the Saviour’s ear in that dark home, and the fullness of His grace flowed out in His memorable answer, “Today shall thou be with Me in paradise.” Soon after, we know, the soul of that repentant thief took its flight to that paradise above, to be forever with the Saviour his sinners who loved him and gave Himself for him; and centuries later He received the soul of poor “John o’ the Score.”
Today the Saviour will still receive sinful men and women, and sinful boys and girls,—all—who will come in faith confessing themselves to be sinners and claim Him as their Saviour.
ML 04/09/1961