"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)
God’s great love for us was not a sentimental, feel-good "love," as the term is used today, but was sacrificial on our behalf. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). The fourth verse of "Crown Him with Many Crowns," speaks of this.
Crown Him the Lord of love! Behold His hands and side,
Rich wounds, yet visible above, In beauty glorified
All hail, Redeemer, hail! For thou hast died for me;
Thy praise shall never, never fail throughout eternity.
Soon after Christ rose from the dead, He appeared to His disciples, who were "glad, when they saw the Lord" (John 20:20). But doubting Thomas was not present, and demanded to see proof before he believed. Several days later Jesus reappeared, and desired to remove all stumbling blocks to faith. "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God" (John 20:27-28). One day all the world will see those yet-visible wounds, for "they shall look upon |Christ| whom they have pierced" (Zechariah 12:10).
Our Redeemer deserves all praise from redeemed sinners: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:23-24). This praise will never end, "that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever" (1 Peter 4:11). JDM
