p. 563 | A SIGNIFICANT WORD

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 15, 1887

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 13, No. 36.

A SIGNIFICANT WORD.

It is a small word, a word of only one syllable, and that consisting of but two letters. And yet, in its connection, it expresses a world of meaning. I know of no word more expressive, whether in the Bible, or in any other book. It is the simple word "so," a word insignificant in itself, but, as we find it in one of the Saviour's declarations, big with import. To Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, who came to Jesus by night, he said: "God 'so' loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Had he simply said that "God loved the world," this sinful race of man, it would have been something wonderful. But that little word "so" tells us how he loved it. He so loved it that he gave for it his only-begotten Son.

Was there ever heard another declaration so amazing? Did ever angels, did ever the inhabitants of any world listen to anything so wonderful? Think of the world that God loved, a world of sinners in rebellion against him. Think of what he gave for them. Not the richest mines of gold and silver, and all the cattle on a thousand hills, as he might have done, for they were all his. Not the highest and the holiest angel that bows before his throne, but an "unspeakable gift," the most costly gift in his power to bestow; nothing less than his only-begotten Son, infinitely dear to him, from eternity dwelling in the bosom of the Father. And think to what he gave him. It was to unparalleled humiliation and sufferings. It was to become a man like unto ourselves, sin excepted. Emanuel, God with us. And it was to suffer all sorts of indignity and abuse, and to die the ignominious and painful death of the cross. It was to suffer the malice of wicked men and devils; and, more than that, it was to be smitten even of the loving Father, whom it pleased to bruise him, and to put him to grief. It was he who said: "Awake, O sword, against my Shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow." So did he love this world of sinners. So did he manifest his interest in our salvation. And so did he make it consistent with justice to save all that believe on his Son.—New York Observer.