love towards sinners. We read that in reply to the taunting remark of His enemies He spoke three parables, — ^the parables of the lost sheep, the lost piece of silver, and the prodigal son. The two first of these parables are now before us. All three are meant to illustrate one and the same truth. They all throw strong light on Christ's willingness to save sinners.
Christ's love is an active, working love. Just as the shepherd did not sit still bewailing his lost sheep, and the woman did not sit stiU bewailing her lost money, so our blessed Lord did not sit still in heaven pitying sin- ners. He left the glory which He had with the Father, and humbled Himself to be made in the likeness of man. He came down into the world to seek and save that which was lost. He never rested till He had made atonement for our transgressions, brought in everlasting righteous- ness, provided eternal redemption, and opened a door of life to all who are willing to be saved.
Christ's love is a self-denying love. The shepherd
brought his lost sheep home on his own shoulders rather
than leave it in the wilderness. The woman lighted a
candle, and swept the house, and searched diligentiy, and
spared no pains, till she found her lost money. And just
so did Christ not spare Himself, when He undertook to
save sinners. "He endured the cross, despising the
sbame." He "laid down His life for His friends." Greater
love than this cannot be shown. (John xv. 13. Heb. xii. 2.)
Christ's love is a deep and mighty love. Just as the
shepherd rejoiced to find his sheep, and the woman to
find her money, so does the Lord Jesus rejoice to save
sinners. It is a real pleasure to Him to pluck them as
176 sxposnoRT thoughts.
brands from the burning. It was His ** meat and drink/' when upon earth, to finish the work which He came to do. He felt straitened in spirit till it was accomplished. It is still His delight to show mercy. He is far more willing to save sinners than sinners are to be saved.
Let us strive to know something of this love of Christ. It is a love that truly passeth knowledge. It is imspeak- able and unsearchable. It is that on which we must wholly rest our souls, if we would have peace in time and glory in eternity. If we take comfort in our own love to Christ, we are building on a sandy foundation. But if we lean on Christ's love to us, we are on a rock.
We should observe, lastly, in these verses, the tcide encouragement which our Lord holds out to repentance. We read these striking words, " Joy shaU be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth." We read the same thought again after a few verses ; " There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." The thing is doubled, to make doubt impossible. The idea is repeated, in order to meet man's unbelief.
There are deep things in these sayings, beyond doubt. Our poor weak minds are little able to understand how the perfect joy of heaven can admit of increase. But one thing, at any rate, stands out clearly on the face of these expressions. There is an infinite willingness on God's part to receive sinners. However wicked a man may have been, in the day that he really turns from his wickedness and comes to God by Christ, God is well- pleased. God has no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, and God has pleasure in true repentance.
Let the man who is afraid to repent, consider well the