In Gratitude and Sorrow

"And following Him was a large crowd of the people, 

and of women who were mourning and lamenting Him."

Luke 23:27

When we comprehend the great love that compelled Jesus to suffer for us -- that it was His choice, His will, and that He could have called 10,000 angels to rescue Him (Matthew 26:53) -- it should cause us to grieve. Grieve over our sin that required what only Christ could provide: atonement. "He was crucified outside the city gates—that is where he poured out the sacrificial blood that was brought to God's altar to cleanse his people." (Hebrews 13:12 The Message). And Christ's great love and sacrifice should cause us to worship in gratitude. "Why those women loved and wept it were not hard to guess: but they could not have had greater reasons for love and grief than my heart has. Nain's widow saw her son restored-but I myself have been raised to newness of life. Peter's wife's mother was cured of the fever-but I of the greater plague of sin. Out of Magdalene seven devils were cast-but a whole legion out of me. Mary and Martha were favoured with visits-but he dwells with me. His mother bare his body-but he is formed in me the hope of glory. In nothing behind the holy women in debt, let me not be behind them in gratitude or sorrow." (Charles Spurgeon)