The Lost Sheep - by Spurgeon

From Spurgeon's, "The Parable of the Lost Sheep"

"Who for the JOY that was set before Him He endured the cross, despising the shame."

A great sorrow was on Christ when our load of sin was laid on him, but a greater joy flashed into his mind when he thought that we were by his death, recovered from our lost estate. He said to himself, "I have taken them up upon My shoulders,and none can hurt them now, neither can they wander to destruction. I am bearing their sin, and they shall never come into condemnation. The penalty of their guilt has been laid on Me that it may never be laid on them. I am an effectual and efficient Substitute for them. I am bearing their sin, that they may never bear My Father's righteous anger.

"His love to them made it a JOY for him to feel every lash of the scourge of justice! His love to them made it a delight that the nails should pierce his hands and feet! His love to them made it a JOY for him that his heart should be broken with the absence of his Father, God. Even "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"when the depths of its woe have been sounded, will be found to have pearls of joy in its caverns. No shout of triumph can equal that cry of grief, because ourLord joyed to bear even the forsaking by his Father, for the sin of his chosen ones, whom he had loved from before the foundation of the world.

Oh, you cannot understand it except in a very feeble measure!