“There was more than a tree upon His back” by Samuel Rutherford

“Jesus cried with a loud voice, with such a shout as never before went to heaven.

The Son, crying to the Father, shouting with tears and strong cries, “Father, Father, God’s mercy!”

O what a cry would all believers have made in hell, if Christ had not cried.

Ye had been always crying.

But O what a conflict was there! God weeping, God sobbing!

Never was there such a conflict in heaven, and earth, either before, or shall be after.

Angels might have quaked, if they be capable of such passion.

They might have said, “Alas! What ails our dear Lord and Master to cry so hideously?”

Christ was harassed and torn on a piece of tree!

He who takes up the isles of the sea as a little thing; yea, He who can take up heaven and earth with a touch of His little finger!

He who can weigh the mountains in a balance!

O what a onset was it to Christ’s back and thighs!

No wonder; there was more than a tree upon His back.

The curse of the law of God was above the tree.

And that was heavier than ten thousand mountains of iron.”

–Samuel Rutherford, Fourteen Communion Sermons, ed. Andrew A. Bonar, Second Edition (Glasgow: Charles Glass & Co., 1877), 285–288.