Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc00/v01000

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 8KB | 133 lines

01011
 #26-30 Crucifixion was a death used only among the Romans; it
 was very terrible and miserable. A cross was laid on the ground,
 to which the hands and feet were nailed, it was then lifted up
 and fixed upright, so that the weight of the body hung on the
 nails, till the sufferer died in agony. Christ thus answered the
 type of the brazen serpent raised on a pole. Christ underwent
 all the misery and shame here related, that he might purchase
 for us everlasting life, and joy, and glory.

01016
 #31-34 Christ was led as a Lamb to the slaughter, as a Sacrifice
 to the altar. Even the mercies of the wicked are really cruel.
 Taking the cross from him, they compelled one Simon to bear it.
 Make us ready, O Lord, to bear the cross thou hast appointed us,
 and daily to take it up with cheerfulness, following thee. Was
 ever sorrow like unto his sorrow? And when we behold what manner
 of death he died, let us in that behold with what manner of love
 he loved us. As if death, so painful a death, were not enough,
 they added to its bitterness and terror in several ways.

01020
 #35-44 It was usual to put shame upon malefactors, by a writing
 to notify the crime for which they suffered. So they set up one
 over Christ's head. This they designed for his reproach, but God
 so overruled it, that even his accusation was to his honour.
 There were crucified with him at the same time, two robbers. He
 was, at his death, numbered among the transgressors, that we, at
 our death, might be numbered among the saints. The taunts and
 jeers he received are here recorded. The enemies of Christ
 labour to make others believe that of religion and of the people
 of God, which they themselves know to be false. The chief
 priests and scribes, and the elders, upbraid Jesus with being
 the King of Israel. Many people could like the King of Israel
 well enough, if he would but come down from the cross; if they
 could but have his kingdom without the tribulation through which
 they must enter into it. But if no cross, then no Christ, no
 crown. Those that would reign with him, must be willing to
 suffer with him. Thus our Lord Jesus, having undertaken to
 satisfy the justice of God, did it, by submitting to the
 punishment of the worst of men. And in every minute particular
 recorded about the sufferings of Christ, we find some prediction
 in the Prophets or the Psalms fulfilled.

01030
 #45-50 During the three hours which the darkness continued,
 Jesus was in agony, wrestling with the powers of darkness, and
 suffering his Father's displeasure against the sin of man, for
 which he was now making his soul an offering. Never were there
 three such hours since the day God created man upon the earth,
 never such a dark and awful scene; it was the turning point of
 that great affair, man's redemption and salvation. Jesus uttered
 a complaint from #Ps 22:1|. Hereby he teaches of what use the
 word of God is to direct us in prayer, and recommends the use of
 Scripture expressions in prayer. The believer may have tasted
 some drops of bitterness, but he can only form a very feeble
 idea of the greatness of Christ's sufferings. Yet, hence he
 learns something of the Saviour's love to sinners; hence he gets
 deeper conviction of the vileness and evil of sin, and of what
 he owes to Christ, who delivers him from the wrath to come. His
 enemies wickedly ridiculed his complaint. Many of the reproaches
 cast upon the word of God and the people of God, arise, as here,
 from gross mistakes. Christ, just before he expired, spake in
 his full strength, to show that his life was not forced from
 him, but was freely delivered into his Father's hands. He had
 strength to bid defiance to the powers of death: and to show
 that by the eternal Spirit he offered himself, being the Priest
 as well as the Sacrifice, he cried with a loud voice. Then he
 yielded up the ghost. The Son of God upon the cross, did die by
 the violence of the pain he was put to. His soul was separated
 from his body, and so his body was left really and truly dead.
 It was certain that Christ did die, for it was needful that he
 should die. He had undertaken to make himself an offering for
 sin, and he did it when he willingly gave up his life.

01036
 #51-56 The rending of the veil signified that Christ, by his
 death, opened a way to God. We have an open way through Christ
 to the throne of grace, or mercy-seat now, and to the throne of
 glory hereafter. When we duly consider Christ's death, our hard
 and rocky hearts should be rent; the heart, and not the
 garments. That heart is harder than a rock that will not yield,
 that will not melt, where Jesus Christ is plainly set forth
 crucified. The graves were opened, and many bodies of saints
 which slept, arose. To whom they appeared, in what manner, and
 how they disappeared, we are not told; and we must not desire to
 be wise above what is written. The dreadful appearances of God
 in his providence, sometimes work strangely for the conviction
 and awakening of sinners. This was expressed in the terror that
 fell upon the centurion and the Roman soldiers. We may reflect
 with comfort on the abundant testimonies given to the character
 of Jesus; and, seeking to give no just cause of offence, we may
 leave it to the Lord to clear our characters, if we live to Him.
 Let us, with an eye of faith, behold Christ and him crucified,
 and be affected with that great love wherewith he loved us. But
 his friends could give no more than a look; they beheld him, but
 could not help him. Never were the horrid nature and effects of
 sin so tremendously displayed, as on that day when the beloved
 Son of the Father hung upon the cross, suffering for sin, the
 Just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. Let us yield
 ourselves willingly to his service.

01042
 #57-61 In the burial of Christ was nothing of pomp or solemnity.
 As Christ had not a house of his own, wherein to lay his head,
 while he lived, so he had not a grave of his own, wherein to lay
 his body, when he was dead. Our Lord Jesus, who had no sin of
 his own, had no grave of his own. The Jews designed that he
 should have made his grave with the wicked, should have been
 buried with the thieves with whom he was crucified, but God
 overruled it, so that he should make it with the rich in his
 death, #Isa 53:9|. And although to the eye of man the beholding
 a funeral may cause terror, yet if we remember how Christ by his
 burial has changed the nature of the grave to believers, it
 should make us rejoice. And we are ever to imitate Christ's
 burial in being continually occupied in the spiritual burial of
 our sins.

01047
 #62-66 On the Jewish sabbath, the chief priests and Pharisees,
 when they should have been at their devotions, were dealing with
 Pilate about securing the sepulchre. This was permitted that
 there might be certain proof of our Lord's resurrection. Pilate
 told them that they might secure the sepulchre as carefully as
 they could. They sealed the stone, and set a guard, and were
 satisfied that all needful care was taken. But to guard the
 sepulchre against the poor weak disciples was folly, because
 needless; while to think to guard it against the power of God,
 was folly, because fruitless, and to no purpose; yet they
 thought they dealt wisely. But the Lord took the wise in their
 own craftiness. Thus shall all the rage and the plans of
 Christ's enemies be made to promote his glory.