Like Peter who had rebuked Him, those following Jesus failed to understand the task He was undertaking as they lamented His walk to the cross. But this journey was necessary, in order to fulfill prophecy, and to fulfill the law, that our sins might be laid on Him as our Passover lamb. He Himself was spotless. He lived a life unblemished by sin. He went to the cross to carry our sin away as the scapegoat did for Israel when it was annually released into the wilderness. But Jesus sacrifice was final. No more annual scapegoat. No more need for any animal sacrifices. His blood was worth more than that of bulls and goats. He was the spotless Lamb who took away the sins of the world. And as Israel was instructed when Moses put the serpent on the pole, we are to look to Jesus' cross, in faith, for the forgiveness of our sins and the salvation of our souls.
Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotions
Morning, April 9
"And there followed Him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented Him." Luke 23:27
Amid the rabble rout which hounded the Redeemer to His doom, there were some gracious souls whose bitter anguish sought vent in wailing and lamentations- fit music to accompany that march of woe. When my soul can, in imagination, see the Saviour bearing His cross to Calvary, she joins the godly women and weeps with them; for, indeed, there is true cause for grief- cause lying deeper than those mourning women thought. They bewailed innocence maltreated, goodness persecuted, love bleeding, meekness about to die; but my heart has a deeper and more bitter cause to mourn. My sins were the scourges which lacerated those blessed shoulders, and crowned with thorn those bleeding brows: my sins cried "Crucify Him! crucify Him!" and laid the cross upon His gracious shoulders. His being led forth to die is sorrow enough for one eternity: but my having been His murderer, is more, infinitely more, grief than one poor fountain of tears can express.
Why those women loved and wept it were not hard to guess: but they could not have had greater reasons for love and grief than my heart has. Nain's widow saw her son restored- but I myself have been raised to newness of life. Peter's wife's mother was cured of the fever- but I of the greater plague of sin. Out of Magdalene seven devils were cast- but a whole legion out of me. Mary and Martha were favoured with visits- but He dwells with me. His mother bare His body- but He is formed in me the hope of glory. In nothing behind the holy women in debt, let me not be behind them in gratitude or sorrow.
"Love and grief my heart dividing,
With my tears His feet I'll lave-
Constant still in heart abiding,
Weep for Him who died to save."
Like Peter who had rebuked Him, those following Jesus failed to understand the task He was undertaking as they lamented His walk to the cross. But this journey was necessary, in order to fulfill prophecy, and to fulfill the law, that our sins might be laid on Him as our Passover lamb. He Himself was spotless. He lived a life unblemished by sin. He went to the cross to carry our sin away as the scapegoat did for Israel when it was annually released into the wilderness. But Jesus sacrifice was final. No more annual scapegoat. No more need for any animal sacrifices. His blood was worth more than that of bulls and goats. He was the spotless Lamb who took away the sins of the world. And as Israel was instructed when Moses put the serpent on the pole, we are to look to Jesus' cross, in faith, for the forgiveness of our sins and the salvation of our souls.
Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotions
Morning, April 9
"And there followed Him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented Him." Luke 23:27
Amid the rabble rout which hounded the Redeemer to His doom, there were some gracious souls whose bitter anguish sought vent in wailing and lamentations- fit music to accompany that march of woe. When my soul can, in imagination, see the Saviour bearing His cross to Calvary, she joins the godly women and weeps with them; for, indeed, there is true cause for grief- cause lying deeper than those mourning women thought. They bewailed innocence maltreated, goodness persecuted, love bleeding, meekness about to die; but my heart has a deeper and more bitter cause to mourn. My sins were the scourges which lacerated those blessed shoulders, and crowned with thorn those bleeding brows: my sins cried "Crucify Him! crucify Him!" and laid the cross upon His gracious shoulders. His being led forth to die is sorrow enough for one eternity: but my having been His murderer, is more, infinitely more, grief than one poor fountain of tears can express.
Why those women loved and wept it were not hard to guess: but they could not have had greater reasons for love and grief than my heart has. Nain's widow saw her son restored- but I myself have been raised to newness of life. Peter's wife's mother was cured of the fever- but I of the greater plague of sin. Out of Magdalene seven devils were cast- but a whole legion out of me. Mary and Martha were favoured with visits- but He dwells with me. His mother bare His body- but He is formed in me the hope of glory. In nothing behind the holy women in debt, let me not be behind them in gratitude or sorrow.
"Love and grief my heart dividing,
With my tears His feet I'll lave-
Constant still in heart abiding,
Weep for Him who died to save."
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