What an astonishing act of love it was for the Father to give the delight of His soul, out of His very bosom, for poor sinners! All tongues pause and falter that attempt to express His love; for expressions here are swallowed up in the profound statement of Scripture, "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son." So loved them? How did He love them? Which of us would deliver to death a child, the child of our delights, an only child, in exchange for the greatest inheritance or reward in the world? What tender parent can endure parting with his or her child?

When Hagar was taking her last leave (as she thought) of her Ishmael, "She went and sat her down over against him a good way off. . . for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept" (Gen. 21:16). Though she was in no way the best of mothers, nor he the best of children, yet she could not give up her child. Oh, it was hard to part!

Likewise, think of the outpouring of grief that David made upon the death of Absalom, his rebellious son who was seeking to dethrone him; David even wished he had died in Absalom’s place (2 Sam. 18:33).

What a breach has the death of some children made in the hearts of their parents_a breach that may never be closed up in this world. Surely, never did any child lie so close to a parent’s heart as Christ to His Father’s; and yet He willingly parted with Him, though His only One, the Son of His delights; and that to a death, a cursed death, for the worst of sinners. Oh, the admirable love of God to men! Matchless love! A love past finding out! Let all men, therefore, in the matter of their redemption, give equal glory to the Father with the Son (John 5:23). If the Father had not loved us, He would have never parted with such a Son for us.

(From Help and Food, Vol. 36.)

FRAGMENT
Who Thy love, O God, can measure_
Love that crushed for us its Treasure,
Him in whom was all Thy pleasure,
Christ, Thy Son of love?

Couldst Thou bruise Him, there forsaken
On the cross His love had taken,
‘Gainst Thy Son Thy sword awaken,
‘Gainst Thy Son of love?

Couldst Thou crush Him, Man of sorrow,
Pierce His soul with wrath’s fierce arrow,
Melt that heart, rend joints and marrow-
Doom Thy Son of love?