1. What does the apostle ask all to do?
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God,” I John 3:1.
There are then, different manners of love. Man has one kind, which esteems others as long as they favor him, and no longer. God’s is of another kind. When man turned away from God to serve his greatest enemy, the Lord did not desert him. He gave him an opportunity to repent, and left him comforting words of instruction, that he might still hope in the Lord, Romans 15:4. He also gave His Holy Spirit to assist man in living out that word, in approaching to God, Romans 8:26. Next He gave all the holy angels to minister to the wants of those who should be in trial through serving God, Hebrews 1:14. Only one other gift remained that God could bestow upon fallen man _ His only begotten Son.
2. How much does God love the world?
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” John 3:16.
3. Did God wait for man to return to Him before sending His Son to die?
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,” Romans 5:8.
4. What did the Lord Jesus Himself do that we might have eternal riches?
“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich,” II Corinthians 8:9.
5. How rich was the Son of God?
“Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds,” Hebrews 1:2. See also John 17:5.
6. How poor was He when born?
“And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn,” Luke 2:7.
7. Was He any better provided for when He had grown to man’s estate?
“And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head,” Matthew 8:20.
8. What trials did He pass through on man’s behalf?
“For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin,” Hebrews 4:15.
9. What did He do to show His sympathy for those in affliction?
“And He healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils,” Mark 1:34.
10. How was He received by those whom He came to save?
“He came unto His own, and His own received Him not,” John 1:11.
11. After choosing some disciples toward whom He felt much tenderness, what did one of them do in return for His love?
“And immediately, while He yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. And he that betrayed Him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He; take Him, and lead Him away safely. And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to Him, and saith, Master, Master; and kissed Him. And they laid their hands on Him, and took Him,” Mark 14:43-46.
12. Why did Judas thus betray his Master?
“Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver Him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver,” Matthew 26:14, 15.
13. What was first done with the Savior after His betrayal?
He was taken to the high priest’s house (Mark 14:53) where He was buffeted and spit upon (verse 65). He was next taken before Pilate (Mark 15:1), where He was mocked by the soldiers (verses 17-19), until finally they led Him to the place of crucifixion. Here He was nailed to the cross, and amid the taunts and insults of His persecutors, He was lifted up on the cross of Calvary, to die for the world. God’s love was shown toward the world in that He did not withdraw His Son from the earth when He was so maltreated, and thus leave man to perish. But He so loved the world that He would suffer these terrible indignities to be heaped on His dear Son, if by this means He could but save fallen man.
14. What did the Savior say the repentance of one sinner causes in heaven?
“Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth,” Luke 15:10.
15. After the prodigal son had wasted all his inheritance in a far country, and began to realize his wretched condition, what did he say?
“I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants,” verses 18, 19.
16. On his return, how did his father meet him?
“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him,” verse 20.
17. What preparations were then made to give the prodigal a general welcome?
“The father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry,” verses 22-24.
When the evening bells are tolling
And my days on earth are o’er,
When I cross that swelling Jordan
To that dim and distant shore,
When I reach that shining city
In that angel’s home so fair,
At the pearly gates of Eden
Will my Savior know me there?
On that bright and glorious morning,
In that land of endless day
Will my Savior bid me welcome
To in peace forever stay?
In that land of joy and gladness
Free from toil and earthly care,
On that great eternal morning
Will my Savior know me there?
_ Madoline Sprague