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NOT SATISFIED with all the jeering and taunts that marked the earlier hours, Jesus’ enemies resume their mocking as He languishes on the cross. Of course we have read with joy in Luke of one exception—the thief who, before expiring, turned to Jesus saying: “Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.” Luke 23:4242And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. (Luke 23:42). The Lord responds: “Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise.” Ah yes, the Lord in all His agony was not beyond the call of one who expressed such faith.
“And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying,... My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” vv. 33-34. God now draws a curtain of darkness over that portion of Christ’s work where the sin question was dealt with in all its fullness. It was of this that the prophet could foretell: “All Thy waves and Thy billo.ws are gone over Me.” Psalm 42:77Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. (Psalm 42:7).
Jesus had come forth from the Father in the full expression of God’s grace and truth, revealing in the fashion of man what man himself could never otherwise enter into concerning God. Yet there was more than this. He came not only to seek but also to save that which was lost. A way of redemption must then be provided, and He came to make that very way open by offering Himself an atonement for sins. For almost two thousand years God had provided an atonement for the errors of His earthly people through sacrificial offerings. But we are told in Hebrews 10:1 That “the law... can never with those sacrifices, which they offered year by year continually, make the comers thereunto perfect.” But the Son, in a past eternity had said, “Lo, I come... to do Thy will, O God.” Hebrews 10:77Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. (Hebrews 10:7). He alone could offer, once for all, the sacrifice that would suffice for eternity. That moment had now come. Just as, in type, the sins of the people were proclaimed in bygone years upon the head of the sacrificial animal, now the “perfect Lamb” was to take upon Himself the guilt and sins of all who through faith would accept His work.
While His Son became the Sin-bearer, God in His holiness must turn from Him. In the three hours of darkness God’s judgment against our sins was heaped upon our blessed Saviour and in faith we can now say, “We did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted” but can also in faith joyfully add, “With His stripes we are healed.” (Isa. 53:4, 54Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4‑5).) It was in these three hours that the Lord suffered at God’s hand, bearing alone His judgment, and thus wrought atonement for all who will believe. Friend, it was for you too that He suffered thus. Will you not have Him as your own personal Saviour?
Then, God’s wrath appeased and the darkness over, this blessed One dismisses His spirit. He had said bore: “I lay down My life, that I might take it again,” John 10:1717Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. (John 10:17). This He now does, and the Creator of life Himself hangs in death on that cross. It is then that the soldier with a spear pierces His side, the blood and water flowing out, to testify forever of the remission of sins and the everlasting token of salvation through this perfect Sacrifice.
ML-06/14/1964