IN OUR last reading we saw the Lord standing before the Jewish leaders, condemned to death, because He owned Himself to be the Son of God. What a changed scene it will be in that coming day when the One they judged unrighteously shall come forth as foretold in Acts 17:3131Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31), “He [God] hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained.” The men, so bold and ruthless in the trial of Jesus, will quake and tremble in the day of their own trial.
Reader, are you prepared for the coming judgment? True, you were not present in the high priest’s palace that cold night so long ago; your voice was not raised with the others in that cry, “He is worthy of death.” Yet a time of judgment just as surely awaits everyone who rejects Christ as Saviour. Listen to these solemn words of a coming trial which none who appear with their sins on them will escape: “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.... And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:12-1512And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:12‑15). The name of everyone who owns Jesus as Lord and trusts in His work on Calvary as answering for his sins before God, is written in that book of life. Is your name there—your safeguard against that impending judgment?
When the united voice of all present is raised, condemning Jesus, the passions and hatred of people of every degree express themselves. “Some began to spit on Him and to cover His face and to buffet Him....and the servants did strike Him with the palms of their hands.” v. 65. Oh, most blessed Saviour, we marvel at Thy grace and compassion in such an hour as this! At Thy command a just reward of their evil deeds against Thy holy Person could have immediately smitten them, but Thou wast oppressed and afflicted. Thou wast brought as a sheep before her shears, yet opened not Thy mouth (Isa. 53:77He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)). We look in wonder at this marvelous display of patient grace.
But where were the disciples, who had assured Him of their devotedness? And particularly, where was Peter, who had so strongly insisted: “If I should die with Thee, I will not deny Thee in any wise?” We can only assume that all of them, dismayed by the sudden turn of events and at the moment fearful of their own safety, fell far short of their expected boldness and dared not come to stand at His side. We read expressly of Peter that he “followed Him afar off, even unto the palace of the high priest; and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.” v. 54. Ah, Peter! Can you mile with those who have showed their hatred toward the One you love? Can you warm yourself by their fire and never have a voice for your blessed Master? Alas, it is to be far worse than this, before the morning light breaks. The world is yet asleep, but soon it will be astir and the very nearness of the dawn will bring to this disciple a humbling awareness of how low he can fall.
ML-05/03/1964