A Superlative Love

The story is told of a tribe of Seneca Indians who lived along the Niagara River who had an annual tradition of making an offering of the fairest maiden of the tribe to propitiate the Spirit of Niagara Falls. On one occasion, the maiden chosen was the daughter of the chief, who was a brave man and loved his daughter dearly. Reluctant to lose her, yet feeling the justice of the choice, he consented to sacrifice her for the welfare of the whole tribe.

The fatal night came. The roar of the rapids and the falling avalanche of waters could be heard from a distance. The shore was lined with the silent witnesses of the offering. The chief’s daughter stepped into a canoe filled with the first fruits and flowers of the field, and boldly paddled out into the current and drifted toward the Falls where sudden death awaited her. Then the multitudes saw a sight which filled them with awe. The chief was seen to step into another canoe, rowing until he came alongside his daughter’s canoe. As their eyes met, there was a look of infinite love and tenderness. The old chief loved his daughter so dearly, that he would not permit her to take the death journey alone, and so they both dashed over Niagara Falls to their death.

The above story is illustrative of a rare love between a father and his daughter. However, how much better would the story have been if the chief had stepped into his daughter’s boat and gone over the Falls himself, leaving her to live?

While it is a great thing to die with another — it is still a greater thing to die for another. This is exactly what our Lord did for mankind on the cross of Calvary. The impenitent thief on Calvary died in sin (cf. Romans 6:16,23), the penitent thief died to sin (cf. Romans 6:2,11; 1 Peter 2:24), but Christ died for sin (Romans 8:3) — and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world (John 1:29; 1 John 2:2).

Dear reader, Christ’s atoning sacrifice for our sins transcends all human reasoning, because it was an expression of His superlative love for mankind — a love that was not afraid of suffering — a love that willingly died that humanity might live (John 10:17-18; 1 John 4:8-9; 1 John 5:11).

What a magnificent Savior we have!

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets