As I write, I recollect the lyrics of a hymn, “King of love, my shepherd is.” Buried within spiritual songs and scripture lay treasures which honour and highlight Jesus our shepherd, the King of love. It is in His presence, the God who is love, we best know love. Jesus is ‘God with us’. Song of Solomon records, “He is altogether lovely.” The Shulamite said, “For your love is better than wine. Because of the fragrance of your good ointments, your name is ointment poured forth.” The Lord Jesus, a balm in Gilead, Saviour of the world, is God’s love shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost.
A Balm in Gilead
The prophet Jeremiah mourned for his people. “Is there no balm in Gilead?” he asked. “Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people?” He mourns their distance from God and their retreat to deception and evil. But Malachi writes, “But to you who fear my name the Sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings.” In Jesus we see and experience compassion; to the crowd who might faint on the way, food; to the weary and lost he admonishes his disciples to pray for harvesters; to those he encountered, the demonized, the diseased, the distressed, He, moved to compassion, brought healing.
Saviour of the World
The Saviour of the world, Jesus. It was His love for the Father and for humankind that brought Him to our world, to take on our weakness and endure suffering and the cross. He did not come as a philanthropist, lawyer or politician. He came as the beloved Son of God, a servant, laying aside His glory to take on our festering wounds, to bring to us ointment for our depravity. Until we see Him in His home environment, we will never understand.
Shed Abroad
His love is to be shed abroad. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,” is the demonstration of His love. The Holy Spirit has shed the love of God abroad in our hearts. This love distinguishes us as God’s people. Jesus told his disciples it was a new commandment. “Love one another; as I have loved you, … you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples if you love one another.”
The Lord Jesus, a balm in Gilead, Saviour of the world, is the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. Let your light shine!