613
THE KING’S BUSINESS
say, “My mother” (not that He ignored it), but “Woman,” He was born of woman (Gen. 3:15) rather than a woman. Yet he set an example to all sons to honor and care for mother. Christ did not make the saints dependent on Mary but Mary on the saints. To those disciples who are “stand ing by” the Lord commits His treasures and trusts. (4) “M y God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46). In that word is infolded a mystery unfathomed. The consummate,evil of sin is abandonment of God and abandonment by God. The latter may have been the experience of Jesus, that it might not be ours. (5) " I thirst?’ (John 19:28). This is the only sign of physical suffering Jesus gave. Thirst, is the severest physical agony. He thirsted that He might say, “ If any man thirst let him come unto Me and drink” (John 7:37). He thirsted that we might never thirst (John 4:14) but “ drink of the' fountain of life freely” (Rev. 21:9). (6) “ It is finished.” The life of humilia tion; the High priestly task of the Atone ment without the veil (Lev. 16) ; the ran som and redemption o f His own. “When He from His lofty throne Stooped down .to do and die, (7) “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit" (Luke 23:46). According to “ Pastor” Russel, Jesus had no spirit to en trust to the Father. He was annihilated. But He, though God-forsaken, could say, “Though He slay me yet will I trust in Him” ; and “ Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell” (Acts 2:26, 27). Though thou, oh, my brother, may be constrained to cry, “My God, why hast Thou forsaken me ?” commit thy way, thy life, thy soul to Him. thy Father. “R emember , J esus C hrist died for our SINS, ACCORDING TO’MY GOSPEL.” —Paul. Everything was fully done “Finished!” was His cry. “ It is finished,” yes, indeed, Finished every jot. Sinner, this is all you need. Tell me, is it not?”
natural, not an eclipse. It mercifully hid Jesus’ shameful suffering for the time; shielded Him from the midday sun; and may have been the sign of the spiritual darkness which He for us entered; and the momentary triumph of the powers of dark ness* but of the most dreadful terror to His murderers; and a symbol of the gloom and blindness in which they groped and the wrath of God so soon to overwhelm them. It was at least nature’s sympathy: “Well might the sun in darkness hide And shut his glories in; When Christ the mighty Maker died For man the creature’s sin.” 3. The Earthquake. Rocks were rent; graves were opened (and seem to have re mained so till) “ after his resurrection many of the saints arose (Abraham? Isaac?- Jacob? David?) and appeared in the city. The wonder is that that earthquake did not engulf the sinners and “ swallow them up quick” (Num. 16:28-34). 4. The Veil Rent. Next to rending, the earth that the saints might come forth was, the rending of the veil (Luke 23:45) that “the way into the holiest (Holy of holies) might be made manifest” (Heb. 10:19, 20). Every barrier was torn away, every mediat ing priest was. set aside, every individual sinner was invited near, for b y H im we have “boldness and access with confidence” (Eph. 3:12; Heb. 4:16). 5. The Seven Sayings On the Cross. (1) "Father forgive them,” etc. (Luke 23: 24)./! Jesus despaired not of the bloodiest handed sinner and scoffer. That dying plea for His enemies is registered for you, O sinner, if you will receive its benefit. (2) "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). The believing penitent (scoffer, robber) went straight to be with) Jesus (2 Cor. 5 :8) ; no annihila tion ; no purgatory; no essential merits; nothing but the blood of Jesus; yet no en couragement to sin or to procrastination- only one thief saved! (3) "Behold thy son . . . behold thy mother” (John 19:26, 27). Jesus did not
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