THE LOVE OF JESUS

[nChrist]

My Note: Everything in this thread is very old and beautiful, long out of copyright and in the public domain. You are free to use these for personal use, but you are not free to claim them as your own or associate any type of money transaction with them.

A  special, personal, distinguishing love!

The following is from Bonar's book, "The Night of Weeping"

It is sweet to realize the common love flowing
out of the Father's bosom to the whole happy
household of His saved ones; but it is no less
sweet, especially in the day of trial, to dwell
upon the personal love He bears so distinctively
to each of His children.

Jesus has a special, personal, distinguishing
love for each of His children; just as if He
loved no other, but had His whole heart to
give to us alone. His is a detailed and watchful
care, bending over each of His children, day
and night, as if He had no other to care for.

How sweet to think that each of us is the
special object of such personal affection, the
particular object of such unwearied vigilance!

What manner of love is this!

We are sure that we shall be fully cared for,
and not one need or sorrow will be overlooked.

We know that "all things shall work together
for our good," and that the end of everything
which befalls us here shall be light and glory
forever!

[nChrist]

A love surpassing thought!

(by Spurgeon)

If we are children of God, we are dearly beloved
by God. Did you ever try to get that thought into
your mind, that God loves you?

I can understand that God 'pities' me; that is a
feeling which so vastly superior a being might
well feel to so inferior an existence.

But that he loves me is scarcely conceivable,
although it is most sure and certain.

Who can drink this well dry? Who can bear
home this fruitful sheaf of delights, this
purple cluster of Eshcol?

Children of God are loved by their Father
with a love surpassing thought!

As his children, we have access to God at
all hours, the father's door is never locked
against his much loved children.

Our cry he knows even as a father knows
his child's cry, from every other sound.

All our needs are provided for, and our
Father's loving heart watches over all our
wanderings, and forgives all our offenses.

[nChrist]

The Agony in Gethsemane

The following is from Spurgeon's sermon,
"The Agony in Gethsemane" Luke 22:44

"My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow
to the point of death." Matthew 26:38

"And being in agony he prayed more earnestly:
and his sweat was as it were great drops of
blood falling down to the ground." Luke 22:44

See the excellence and completeness
of the atonement of Christ!

How black I am, how filthy, how loathsome in
the sight of God; I feel myself only fit to be
cast into the lowest hell, and I wonder that
God has not long ago cast me there.

But I go into Gethsemane, and I peer under
those gnarled olive trees, and I see my Savior!

Yes, I see him wallowing on the ground in
anguish, and hear such groans come from
him as never came from human breast before.

I look upon the ground and see it red with
his blood, while his face is smeared with
gory sweat, and I say to myself, "My God,
my Savior, why do you suffer so?"

I hear him reply, "I am suffering for your sin."

Now I can understand how Jehovah can spare
me, because he smote his Son in my stead!

Sinner as I am, I stand before the burning throne
of the severity of God, and am not afraid of it.
Can you scorch me, O consuming fire, when you
have not only scorched, but utterly consumed
my substitute?

All hell was distilled into that cup of which
Jesus Christ was made to drink. The woe
that broke over the Savior's spirit, the great
and fathomless ocean of inexpressible anguish
which dashed over the Savior's soul when
he died, was inconceivable.

Our Lord's main suffering lay in his soul. His
soul-sufferings were the soul of his sufferings.
His position as a sin-bearer, and the desertion
by his Father engrossed his contemplations.

The bloody sweat of Jesus came from an
utter faintness and prostration of soul.

He was in an awful soul-swoon, and suffered
an inward death, whose accompaniment was
not watery tears from the eyes, but a
weeping of blood from the entire man.

He could say with David, "The pains
of hell got hold upon me."

All God's waves and billows went over him.
Above him, beneath him, around him, and
within, all, all was anguish.

[nChrist]

All for you!

(MacDuff, "Encouragements to Patient Waiting")

Take a pilgrimage in thought, to Gethsemane
and Calvary! Gaze upon His sufferings! He knew
all the sorrows that await Him--the shame, the
suffering, the anguish--but He takes the bitter
cup, and, with His heart set on the salvation
of His people--with His heart set on you--the
blessed Savior drains it to the very dregs!

See Him on Calvary . . .
  unpitied by the crowd;
  deserted by His disciples;
  forsaken by His Father;
  the Lamb led to the slaughter;
and all for you!

[nChrist]

The amazing love of God!

Spurgeon, "THE PARABLE OF THE WEDDING FEAST"

The gospel feast is an expensive business - the very heart of Christ
was drained to find the price for this great festival; but it costs
the sinner nothing, nothing of money, nothing of merit, nothing of
preparation. You may come as you are to the gospel feast, for the
only wedding dress required is freely provided for you.
The gospel is a river of love,
it is a sea of love,
it is a heaven of love,
it is a universe of love,
it is all love.
Words there are none, fully to set forth the amazing love of God
to sinners, no sin too big or too black, no crime too crimson or
too cursed for pardon.

[nChrist]

Things that even the angels desire to look into!

(J. C. Philpot, "Meditations on First Peter")

"These are things that even the angels desire
 to look into!" 1 Peter 1:12

To the carnal, earthly, debased, degraded mind
of man, the mystery of the Person of Christ, of
the cross, of the sufferings, blood-shedding, and
death of Jesus, whereby He put away sin by the
sacrifice of Himself--is foolishness. He sees no
beauty, blessedness, or glory in the Person of the
Son of God, nor any wisdom or grace in atoning
blood and dying love.

But not so with these bright and pure beings!
They see in the Person and work of Christ not only
the depths of infinite wisdom in the contrivance of
the whole plan of redemption, and of power in its
execution and full accomplishment; but they see
such lengths, breadths, depths, and heights of love
as fill their minds with holy wonder, admiration and
praise. They see in His incarnation, humiliation,
sufferings, blood-shedding, and death--such
unspeakable treasures of mercy and grace as
ever fill their minds with wonder and admiration.

What shame and confusion should cover our face
that we should see so little beauty and glory in
that redeeming blood and love, which fills the pure
minds of the angelic beings with holy and unceasing
admiration--and that they should be ever seeking
and inquiring into this heavenly mystery, that they
may discover in it ever new and opening treasures
of the wisdom, grace, mercy, truth, and love of God
--when we who profess to be redeemed by precious
blood, are, for the most part, so cold and indifferent
in the contemplation and admiration of it.

[nChrist]

I am astonished

(A Puritan Prayer)

O bottomless Fountain of all good,
I am astonished at the difference between . . .
  my receivings--and my deservings,
  the state I am now in--and my past gracelessness,
  the heaven I am bound for--and the hell I merit.

Who made me to differ, but You? I could not have
begun to love You, had You not first loved me.

O Lord, I am astonished that . . .
such a crown should fit the head of such a sinner,
such high advancement for one so worthless,
such joys for so vile a rebel!

Let 'wrath deserved' be written on the door of hell;
but the 'free gift of grace' on the gate of heaven!

Let Your love draw me nearer to Yourself. Wean
me from sin, mortify me to this world, and make
me ready for my departure hence. Secure me by
Your grace as I sail across this stormy sea.

[nChrist]

The astonishing, the marvelous love!

(From Winslow's, "Love at the Foot of the Cross")

The cross of Jesus inspires our love to Him.
It would seem impossible to be brought by
the Holy Spirit to the foot of the cross, and
not feel the inspiration of love.

Surely a believing apprehension of the amazing,
the unparalleled love of Jesus, bending His look
of forgiveness upon us from the cross, will thaw
our icy hearts into the warmest glow of affection.

Believe that Jesus loves you, and your heart shall
glow with a love in return which will bear it on in
a willing obedience and unreserved surrender, in
faithful service and patient suffering, enwrapped,
consumed amid the flames of its own 'heaven
inspired' and 'heaven ascending' affection.

The astonishing, the marvelous love, He
has exhibited in giving you His beloved Son
to die in your stead, are cords by which He
would draw your loving heart to Himself.

[nChrist]

The true spiritual Atlas

(John MacDuff, "Memories of Olivet" 1870)

"You shall make His soul an offering for sin."
    Isaiah 53:10

"Now is My soul troubled." John 12:27

Mark, it is SOUL SUFFERING that is the burden of
Jesus' anguish. "Now is my soul troubled" "My soul
is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death.''

That 'cup' was filled to the brim with curses. His
holy soul was like a vast reservoir, into which the
transgressions of every elect child of Adam rushed
from every age, demanding satisfaction.

He was "filled with horror and deep distress"
at the fearful havoc sin had wrought, and at its
dreadful penalty, which He was now bearing.

The wrath of God; the terrible manifestation
of His displeasure at iniquity; was upon Jesus.

He was the true spiritual Atlas, bearing on
His shoulders the sins of a guilty world!

Jesus' sufferings were not calamities; they
were punishment judicially inflicted. There was
an eternity of woe was condensed into them!
Christ was the Sin Bearer, bearing not merely
the punishment of sin, but sin itself.

As we see drop by drop crimsoning the sods
of Gethsemane, we may well exclaim, "He was
pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed
for our iniquities; the punishment that brought
us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds
we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

[nChrist]

The axle!

by Spurgeon-

You know in a wheel there is one portion that never
turns around, that stands steadfast - and that is the axle.

So in God's providence, there is an axle which never moves.

Christian, here is a sweet thought for you--
your state is ever changing.
Sometimes you are exalted and sometimes depressed,
yet there is an unmoving point in your state.
What is that axle?
What is the pivot upon which all the machinery revolves?
It is the axle of God's everlasting love towards His people!

The exterior of the wheel is changing,
but the center stands forever fixed.

Other things may move, but God's love never moves.
It is the axle of the wheel, and will endure.

[nChrist]

The Almighty is a weak babe!

(Henry Law, "Christ is All" 1854)

"Unto you is born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

Wonder of wonders! The mighty God, without
ceasing to be God, becomes man to redeem us!

Let the greatest king become the lowest beggar;
let the richest prince leave his palace for the vilest
cell of a loathsome prison; it is as nothing compared
to the act of Jesus, when He left heaven to put on
the rags of our mortality!

The Creator of all things becomes a creature!

The Almighty is a weak babe!

The Eternal is a child of time!

The Infinite is contracted into the limits of poor flesh!

Is not this the wonder of wonders?

Is not this grace which has no bounds?

[nChrist]

Because he loved her!

(From Octavius Winslow's, "The Coming of the
Lord in its Relation to Nominal Christianity")

"Behold, the Bridegroom comes!"

Jesus sustains no relation to his Church more
expressive than this. From all eternity he
forever betrothed her to himself. He asked
her at the hands of her Father, and the Father
gave her to him. He entered into a covenant
that she should be his. The conditions of that
covenant were great, but not too great for his
love to undertake. They were, that he should....
assume her nature,
discharge her legal obligations,
endure her punishment,
repair her ruin, and
bring her to glory!

He undertook all, and he accomplished all,
because he loved her!

The love of Jesus to his Church is the
love of the most tender husband. It is....
single,
constant,
affectionate,
matchless,
wonderful.

Jesus....
sympathizes with her,
nourishes her,
provides for her,
clothes her,
watches over, and
indulges her with the most intimate
and endearing communion.
_________________________________________

(My Note:  This is the one and ONLY TRUE CHURCH, a church not made with human hands,
THE CHURCH WHICH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST.

[nChrist]

My beloved

(Octavius Winslow, "None Like Christ" 1866)

"How is your beloved better than others?"
    Song of Solomon 5:9

Does the world challenge – "How is your beloved
better than others?" Your answer is at hand –
"My beloved bore my sins, and opened in His heart
a fountain in which I am washed whiter than snow!

My beloved . . .
  sustains my burdens,
  counsels my perplexities,
  heals my wounds,
  dries my tears,
  supplies my needs,
  bears with my infirmities,
  upholds my steps, and
  cheers my pathway to the tomb.

My beloved will be with me in the valley of
the shadow of death, and with His presence
I shall fear no evil.

My beloved has gone to prepare a place for me
in the many-mansioned house of my Father, and
will come again and receive me to Himself, that
where He is, I may be also.

My beloved will walk with me in the gold-paved
streets of the new Jerusalem. He will lead me to
fountains of living waters, and will wipe every
tear from my eyes! He is altogether lovely!
This is my beloved, and this is my Friend!"

[nChrist]

Better than wine!

by Spurgeon-

"Your love is better than wine." --Song of Solomon 1:2

Nothing gives the believer so much joy as fellowship with Christ.
He has enjoyment as others have in the common mercies of life,
he can be glad both in God's gifts and God's works; but in all
these separately, yes, and in all of them added together,
he does not find such substantial delight as in
the matchless person of his Lord Jesus.

He has wine which no vineyard on earth ever yielded; he has bread
which all the corn-fields of Egypt could never bring forth.

Where can such sweetness be found as we have tasted
in communion with our Beloved?

In our esteem, the joys of earth are little better
than husks for swine compared with Jesus, the heavenly manna.

We would rather have one mouthful of Christ's love, and a sip
of his fellowship, than a whole world full of carnal delights.

What is the chaff to the wheat?
What is the sparkling paste to the true diamond?
What is a dream to the glorious reality?
What is time's mirth, in its best trim,
compared to our Lord Jesus in His most despised estate?

If you know anything of the inner life, you will confess that our
highest, purest, and most enduring joys must be the fruit of
the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.

No spring yields such sweet water as that well of God
which was digged with the soldier's spear.

All earthly bliss is of the earth earthy, but the comforts
of Christ's presence are like Himself, heavenly.

We can review our communion with Jesus, and find no regrets
of emptiness therein; there are no dregs in this wine,
no dead flies in this ointment.

The joy of the Lord is solid and enduring.

Vanity has not looked upon it, but discretion and prudence
testify that it abides the test of years, and is in time and in
eternity worthy to be called "the only true delight."

For nourishment,
consolation,
exhilaration,
and refreshment,
no wine can rival the love of Jesus.
Let us drink to the full this evening.

[nChrist]

BLOOD!

(Octavius Winslow, "The Preciousness of Christ's Blood")

Among the precious things of God, there
is not one so precious, so inestimable, so
influential, as "the precious blood of Christ."

The atoning blood of Immanuel
is the divine bath of the soul.

All salvation,
all purity,
all peace,
all holiness,
all hope,
all heaven, are bound up in the
atoning blood of Immanuel.

There is no acceptance for the sinner,
no cleansing for the guilty,
no pardon for the penitent,
no sanctification for the believer,
but in the vicarious sacrifice of the Son of God.

A holy Savior offered up a sinless atonement for
unholy, sinful man! Look at it, beloved, in this
light, and let your hearts glow with love, adoration,
and praise, as you kneel before the cross, and feel
the distilling upon your conscience of that blood
that pardons, covers, and cancels all your guilt.
_________________________________

(My Note:  "Immanuel" means "GOD With Us" -
JESUS CHRIST.)