There will never be a 'sweeter' story, story of the Savior's love divine, Love that brought Him from the realms of Glory just to save sinful souls like yours and mine - go out and tell sinners of the Great redeeming Love of Calvary. It's all about Him. Some 2,000 years ago the world was sinful, sick, and sad (it still is today). Sin had ruined man, and sin was as black as could be. Satan was powerful, on the loose, and tormenting the souls of men. Man was lost in his sin and under the law and wrath of God. But God, who is rich in mercy, made a plan for our redemption. Up in Heaven, the courts of God were filled with Christ Jesus' praises and adoration.
But then, when the fulness of the time was come, in His Great Eternal Love, God sent His only begotten Son, made of a woman, under the law, into this world to be a propitiation (satisfaction) for man's sins. Out of the ivory places and into this world of woe, the Lily of Heaven Himself condescended and walked through 'the valley' of the shadow of death for you. The dear Lamb of God left His glory above and emptied Himself of all but Love. Jesus was born of a virgin in Bethlehem-Judah and laid in a manger. God became a Man and dwelt among sinful man. He was despised and rejected of men. He was afflicted.
But Christ went about doing good, preaching the gospel, and helping the helpless. He was homeless, rejected, and poor. He fasted all alone in the wilderness for 40 days, and for our sins He was tempted by Satan. He was hungry, and thirsty, and weary, and tempted in all points like as we are, yet WITHOUT SIN. He was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. Jesus lived a sinless life for every one of us, because the Holy Father required absolute sinless perfection for man's redemption to be complete. He loved, led, and taught His disciples. He loved to save the sinful, and heal the brokenhearted.
Then, He set His face as a flint to Jerusalem, His soul was troubled, His hour had come, when He would glorify the Father's name. The suffering Savior wrestled all alone in Gethsemane, He prayed and cried all night and was in a bloody sweat because of our sin burden and guilt. Then out of pure hatred and envy, Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, falsely accused by the priests and scribes, and condemned to die under Pontius Pilate. Jesus stood all alone in Pilate's judgment hall called Gabbatha. He was friendless, forsaken, and scorned by all.
He gave His back to the smiters, and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair, and He hid not His face from shame and spitting. The Roman soldiers scourged Him, mocked Him, crowned Him with thorns, and some begat to spit on Him. Then they led Him up Calvary's mountain; He walked up Golgotha's hill weary and worn facing for sinners death on the cross.
He prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." They nailed him to die on the bitter tree between two thieves. Lifted up was He to die between heaven and earth - He was the Mediator between God and men. Our sins nailed Him there; He bore our sin burden, He suffered all this for you, we are guilty of Christ's death. He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. He suffered unspeakable anguish and bore the sins of the whole world in His own body on the tree. He was smitten of God, and afflicted. He died naked and in shame as the wicked mob around the cross taunted and jeered as He hung there in agony and woe.
Christ Jesus groaned upon the tree for six long hours that day writhing in anguish and pain. His heart was broken on Calvary; His hands were nail-scarred, His side was riven, He gave His life-blood for even me. He became Sin for you and me; God the Father put Him to grief, punished Him, and forsook Him. God made Christ's soul an offering for your sin and mine. For our sins he groaned upon the tree. Heavenly Love paid the ransom for our sinful condition. "It is finished!" was His cry as He died all alone. Jesus commended His spirit into God the Father's hands, and gave up the ghost. Love's redeeming work was complete.
Then, they laid His torn body in the borrowed tomb of Joseph. He was buried and carried our sins far away. He's the only hope for hopeless sinners. Low in the grave He lay, waiting the coming day. Then, Hallelujah, on the third day, the grave could hold Him no longer, the stone was rolled away. Death could not keep Him down, He tore the bars of death away. He arose victorious over death and triumphed over Satan and hell. Death, sin, and hell no longer reign, and Satan's power is burst in twain; eternal glory to Jesus' name. Forty days he spent with His disciples, and then the Lord Jesus ascended into Heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. He is preparing a place just for you in the city of gold called New Jerusalem. We have a mansion just over the hilltop. A tent or a trailer, why should we care? He's building a palace for us over there in the heavenly places.
And some day soon (the glad day is approaching) Christ Jesus WILL come back again and will break through the silent sky. Some glorious morning sorrow will cease, some golden daybreak Jesus will come. Soon the Lamb will take His bride to be ever at His side. Some glad morning we shall see Jesus in the air, coming after you and me. The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven, the trumpet shall sound, the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Some golden daybreak, battles all won, He'll shout the victory, and break through the blue. The clouds will be rolled back as a scroll: the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend, Even so - it is well with my soul. O they tell me of a home far beyond the skies, O they tell me of a home far away. Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.
Through the gates to the city in a robe of spotless white, He will lead me where no tears will ever fall. There's a land that is fairer than day. There's a holy and beautiful city whose builder and ruler is God. No sin is allowed in that city, and nothing defiling or mean. And brighter and brighter the glory dawns, while pressing my homeward way. I must walk the path before me, it will some day turn to gold. Life's day is short - I shall soon go to be with Him who loved me so. I see in the distance that shining golden shore. In a land where we'll never grow old. Just to be there and to look on His face will through the ages be glory for me. We'll live on the corner of Amen Lane and Hallelujah Street. There's a land that is fairer than day, and by faith we can see it afar. This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through, my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.
Just one glimpse of Him in glory will the toils of life repay, and then not a wave of trouble will roll across your peaceful breast. I am so glad God saves ole sinners. Some glad morning when this life is o'er, we'll fly away; to a home on God's celestial shore. There waits for us a glad tomorrow, where gates of pearl swing open wide, and when we've passed this vale of sorrow, we'll dwell upon the other side, and we shall go to dwell on Zion's hill. What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see, what a day, a glorious day that will be.
No heartaches are known in that city, no tears ever moisten the eye; there's no disappointment in heaven, no envy and strife in the sky, my heart is now set on that city, and some day soon its blessings I'll share. We shall see the King some day. Cares all past, home at last, ever to rejoice. Oh, it is marvellous and wonderful, what Jesus has done for this soul of mine! The half has never been told. Hail to the King we love so well, Immanuel, Immanuel! King of kings and Lord of lords, All hail, Immanuel! And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. And, even so, COME, Lord Jesus! Worthy is the Lamb that loved me and gave Himself for me.
