Waggoner on the Gospel of John - Ellet J. Waggoner

and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck,
and kissed him," but what a welcome shall He
receive who had carried at the cost of a life or
suffering and a death of shame the message of love
and pardon from the Father in a prodigal world! If
"there is joy in the presence of the angels of God
over one sinner that repenteth," who can measure
the joy over the triumphant completion of that
work through which all sinners may have
salvation? It was for the joy set before Him that He
endured the cross, despising the shame. But this
joy He shares with everyone who will share with
Him in the travail of soul for the lost. Sufficient
reason, then, had Paul the apostle to say: "But none
of these things move me, neither count I my life
dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course
with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of
the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of
God."
The message was delivered by Mary, but "they,
when they had heard that He was alive and had
been seen of her, believed not." It is a typical
experience, often realized by the messenger of
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