Words Of Love Series

The one subject that is appropriate for every Christian holiday, and for the season of lent, and for

the recognition of Washington and Lincoln, and for the Valentine season is the subject of love. It

is not only the greatest of the Christian virtues, but is the most universally relevant subject there is.

Love not only makes the world go round, it makes the trip more exciting. All of us need to give an

receive love.

Nevertheless, there are those who feel you can be too loving, and they urge moderation even in

mercy. Lincoln was accused of being to soft during the Civil War. He was so merciful that he

went out of his way to pardon people that he knew were guilty. One young soldier had gone to

sleep at his post, and he was court marshaled and condemned to be shot. Lincoln intervened and

gave this defense: "I could not think of going into eternity with the blood of that poor young man

on my skirts. It is not wondered at that a boy raised on a farm, probably in the habit of going to

bed at dark, should, when required to watch, fall asleep. And I cannot consent to shoot him for

such an act." There was no question about his guilt, but he was granted the blessing of hearing the

words of love-you are forgiven.

On another occasion 24 deserters were to be shot. Warrants for their execution were sent to

Lincoln to be signed. A General urged Lincoln to sign them to make these men an example to the

rest. In spite of the forceful argument Lincoln replied, "There are already too many weeping

widows in the United States. For God's sake don't ask me to add to the number, for I won't do it."

With complete knowledge of their guilt he pardoned them, and he spoke the words of love-you are

forgiven.

Amazing grace indeed, but no where near as amazing as the words of love we hear from the

central cross on Golgatha. Here we see the King of the Jews-the Lord Jesus, being unjustly

crucified with criminals. It was the greatest sin against God ever committed on this planet. No

words can describe the depth to which man had fallen in killing the only perfect man whoever

lived. But there are no words of cursing coming from that cross. There are no words of revenge,

but unbelievably we hear words of love, and words of pardon, for Jesus said, "Father forgive them

for they know not what they do."

Murder mysteries are famous for surprising endings, but you never see a more surprising

ending than this. Here are the guilty standing before God as their judge, and who is their defense

attorney? It is none other than the very victim of their dastardly crime. And what does he plead?

He does not plead not guilty, for they are guilty as sin. But he pleads the mercy of the court in

saying, "Father forgive them." These are the greatest words of love ever spoken on this earth. For

if Jesus had not forgiven those who crucified Him, there would be no plan of salvation, for the sins

of all mankind took Jesus to the cross, and without His words of pardon no one could be saved.

These words of love represent God's pardon for a world of rebels who have defied His will.

There is no doubt about their guilt, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Nevertheless, with full knowledge of their guilt Jesus pardoned the guilty and made it possible for

every sinner to become a child of God. Jesus died for all sin, and that included the sin of causing

Him to die. The result is that no one ever has to pay the penalty for the greatest sin ever. And if

that sin is forgiven, then Jesus stands ready at all times to forgive any sin and to speak these words

of love to any who come to Him-"Father forgive them."

In 1973 a bank robber got caught in the act in Stockholm, Sweden. He took three women and

a man as hostages for 131 hours. There was no way he could escape, and so in frustration he

terrorized his hostages. He shot off his assault weapon to scare them. He threatened their lives

and just made them miserable. When it was all over one of the women became his fiancée. Woe!

you say. What is that again? That's right, it is no mistake, and one of the women fell in love with

this jerk. To add to the surprise, the other hostages refused to testify against him. The crazy thing

about it is that this is not an isolated incident. It is just one example of a pattern which has come