MY having been His murderer!
"A great multitude of the people followed Him, including
women who
mourned and wailed for Him." Luke 23:27
Amid the rabble crowd which hounded the Redeemer to His doom,
there
were some gracious souls whose bitter anguish sought vent in wailing
and lamentations--fit music to accompany that march of woe!
When my soul can, in imagination, see the Savior bearing His cross to
Calvary--she joins the godly women, and weeps with them. They bewailed . . .
innocence, maltreated,
goodness, persecuted,
love, bleeding,
meekness, dying!
But my heart has a deeper and more bitter cause to mourn: MY SINS were
the scourges that lacerated those blessed shoulders! MY SINS were the thorns
which crowned that
bleeding brow! MY SINS cried, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!"
and laid the cruel cross upon His gracious shoulders! His being led forth to
die, is sorrow enough for one eternity, but MY
having been His murderer, is more, infinitely more grief,
than one poor fountain of tears can express! Those women who loved and
wept, could not have had greater reasons for love and grief, than my
heart has!
The widow of Nain saw her son restored, but I myself
have
been raised to newness of life!
Peter's mother-in-law was cured of the
fever, but I myself have
been cured of the plague of sin!
Mary Magdalene had seven devils cast out of her, but
a
whole legion of devils were cast out of me!
Mary and Martha were favored with
visits from Jesus, but He dwells
with me!
I am not behind these holy women in debt to Jesus, let me not
be behind them, in gratitude or sorrow.
"Love and grief my heart dividing,
With my tears His feet I'll lave;
Constant still in heart abiding,
Weep for Him who died to save!"