154. Friday after Fourth Sunday in Lent.
Lord Jesus, may we hear the voice of thy intercession for us from the cross. Amen.
Mark 15, 25. Luke 23, 34. Isaiah 53, 12. And it was the third hour; and they crucified him. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
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The following thoughts are suggested to me by the intercession of Jesus for his murderers: 1) There is nothing save love and mercy in his soul; not a spark of anger, not a drop of bitterness. They inflict on him the most dreadful suffering; but he excuses them and prays for them. He prays for the soldiers, for Pilate, for the priests, and for all who take part in crucifying him. 2) While praying for others he sheds his blood. Naked and bloody, in the garb of shame and affliction, the Pure and Holy One hangs on the cross, and prays that for the sake of his suffering the Father will forgive them that inflict these sufferings on him. “Wholly and entirely compassed about by the waves of affliction, he descends into the depths of distress in the souls of his enemies, and seeks to rescue them.” In the service of wickedness they stretch out his hands and nail them to the cross; but thus he is enabled to stretch out his hands in prayer for them. His first words on the cross are the words of the high priest. 3) He earns and asks full forgiveness for all; and thus the pardon has been made out and is ready, if the sinner will but seek it and accept it. Here he does not pray with the condition, “Father, if thou wilt.” On the contrary, he asks without any condition, “Father, forgive them.” His blood and death is a perfect, entirely valid payment of the whole world’s debt. These men certainly should have known what they were doing; they have no excuse. Yet the Lord makes excuses for them, and provides grace for them, if they would accept it. Such is our high priest, Jesus Christ. My heart praises and worships him. He extends the grace of his vicarious atonement to the most hardened sinners; he takes upon himself the guilt of all, and hence there is in him forgiveness for all. Many of the blind instruments of Satan for whom Jesus prays continue in their unbelief, and are lost; but the reason for this is not that there was no forgiveness for them; had they but repented and turned to him, the blood of Jesus would have cleansed them from all their sin. Thousands of Jews and gentiles have experienced the power contained in the intercession of the crucified Savior, and are now returning thanks to him in everlasting bliss.
We, also, took part in nailing the Son of God to the cross; for our sins, also, he died. To us, as to all others, he extends the grace which is embraced in his prayer as our high priest; and we may have the full assurance that all our sins are atoned for and wiped out by his blood. Come, my soul, into the sanctuary, before the face of God; receive full pardon for everything, out of the fullness of his merit, and receive likewise the ornament of his priestly purity, patience, and mercy, that you, also, may be of those in whom the Father is well pleased, and that you may love and bless your enemies. Help us, O God, and give us thy blessing herein through thy Holy Ghost. Amen.
See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a tribute far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.