A great artist began to paint the scene of the crucifixion. With great skill, he sketched skull-like Golgotha with its three crosses. With delicate touch, he delineated the two thieves hanging in agony on the crosses of shame. When he came to depict the Figure on the central cross, it seemed that his hand had lost its skill. He was powerless to portray the contorted, anguished form of the world's Redeemer. What did he do? He enveloped the cross in a glorious, dazzlingly beautiful sunrise! What could have been more appropriate? Had not Jesus, "THE Sun of righteousness," risen with "healing in his wings?" Did not His vicarious death for the sin of the world bring spiritual life and light to Satan's sin-shackled slaves? The cross, an emblem of shame and suffering becomes luminous with love and life to all who receive the suffering Saviour-Substitute as their only hope of eternal life, acknowledging the fact that "without shedding of blood is no remission" (Heb. 9:22).

—Parable Pointers