The Crown Before the Cross
Hebrews ii. 9 v.
“For the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour.”
What a proud provision for so mean an end! A life crowned for death — surely it is a wasteful thing! If you knew that your flower must die ere it could reach its summer bloom, would you rear it with a special care? If jou knew that the ship would go down in mid-ocean, would you labour to load it with a freight of precious gold? No, but this is not a flower; this is not a ship; it is a human soul. The things of nature must weed their thorns to get their crown; but the things of grace get their crown to meet the thorns. The flowers of the soul are planted for the winter. The songs of the night are sent for the night, and they are sent beforehand. God loads with the most precious gold the ship in greatest danger. He sends beauty before the blast, to allay the keenness of the blast. Thy Father seeks not thy pain; He would have sacrifice transmuted into joy. He would warm thee so for the journey as to make thee impervious to cold. He would give thee, ere starting, such a draught of love as should keep thee unsubdued amid the arid sands. The man who would be beautiful in death, must first ascend the summit of Xebo; the crown must precede the cross.
Thou upon whose head were many crowns, give me the crown that came before Thy cross. Send me the flower that preceded Thy thorn and made Thy thorn so bearable. I would rather be crowned with glory before the cross, than after it has passed away. It is much to escape, but it is more to conquer; it is good to have joy on Olivet, but it is better to have peace on Calvary. Ennoble me for the hour of sacrifice. Crown me for the altar of duty. Beautify me for the steps of the Dolorous Way. Take me up to Thy transfigured mount ere I suffer, and bathe me in its light unspeakable. Let me sit down at the Passover feast ere I taste the Passover sorrow. Anoint me with the oil of love for every burial of my earthly joy. My cross shall become my crown when Thy crown has preceded my cross.