March 30
Morning
"He was numbered with the transgressors." — Isa_53:12
Why did Jesus suffer himself to be enrolled amongst sinners? This
wonderful condescension was justified by many powerful reasons. In such a
character he could the better become their advocate. In some trials there is an
identification of the counsellor with the client, nor can they be looked upon
in the eye of the law as apart from one another. Now, when the sinner is
brought to the bar, Jesus appears there himself. He stands to answer the
accusation. He points to his side, his hands, his feet, and challenges Justice
to bring anything against the sinners whom he represents; he pleads his blood,
and pleads so triumphantly, being numbered with them and having a part with
them, that the Judge proclaims, "Let them go their way; deliver them from
going down into the pit, for he hath found a ransom." Our Lord Jesus was
numbered with the transgressors in order that they might feel their hearts
drawn towards him. Who can be afraid of one who is written in the same list
with us? Surely we may come boldly to him, and confess our guilt. He who is
numbered with us cannot condemn us. Was he not put down in the transgressor's
list that we might be written in the red roll of the saints? He was holy, and
written among the holy; we were guilty, and numbered among the guilty; he
transfers his name from yonder list to this black indictment, and our names are
taken from the indictment and written in the roll of acceptance, for there is a
complete transfer made between Jesus and his people. All our estate of misery
and sin Jesus has taken; and all that Jesus has comes to us. His righteousness,
his blood, and everything that he hath he gives us as our dowry. Rejoice,
believer, in your union to him who was numbered among the transgressors; and
prove that you are truly saved by being manifestly numbered with those who are
new creatures in him.
Isaiah 53:12
will I: Isa_49:24-25,
Isa_52:15; Gen_3:15; Psa_2:8;
Dan_2:45; Mat_12:28-29;
Act_26:18; Php_2:8-11; Col_1:13-14,
Col_2:15; Heb_2:14-15
poured: Psa_22:14;
Php_2:17 *marg. Heb_12:2
and he was: Mar_15:28;
Luk_22:37, Luk_23:25, Luk_23:32-33
he bare: Isa_53:11;
1Ti_2:5-6; Tit_2:14; Heb_9:26,
Heb_9:28
made: Luk_23:34;
Rom_8:34; Heb_7:25,
Heb_9:24; 1Jn_2:1,
1Jn_2:12
Evening
"Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord."
— Lam_3:40
The spouse who fondly loves her absent husband longs for his return; a
long protracted separation from her lord is a semi-death to her spirit: and so
with souls who love the Saviour much, they must see his face, they cannot bear
that he should be away upon the mountains of Bether, and no more hold communion
with them. A reproaching glance, an uplifted finger will be grievous to loving
children, who fear to offend their tender father, and are only happy in his
smile. Beloved, it was so once with you. A text of Scripture, a threatening, a
touch of the rod of affliction, and you went to your Father's feet, crying,
"Show me wherefore thou contendest with me?" Is it so now? Are you
content to follow Jesus afar off? Can you contemplate suspended communion with
Christ without alarm? Can you bear to have your Beloved walking contrary to
you, because you walk contrary to him? Have your sins separated between you and
your God, and is your heart at rest? O let me affectionately warn you, for it
is a grievous thing when we can live contentedly without the present enjoyment
of the Saviour's face. Let us labour to feel what an evil thing this is-little
love to our own dying Saviour, little joy in our precious Jesus, little
fellowship with the Beloved! Hold a true Lent in your souls, while you sorrow
over your hardness of heart. Do not stop at sorrow! Remember where you first
received salvation. Go at once to the cross. There, and there only, can you get
your spirit quickened. No matter how hard, how insensible, how dead we may have
become, let us go again in all the rags and poverty, and defilement of our
natural condition. Let us clasp that cross, let us look into those languid
eyes, let us bathe in that fountain filled with blood-this will bring back to
us our first love; this will restore the simplicity of our faith, and the
tenderness of our heart.
Lamentations
3:40
search: 1Ch_15:12-13;
Job_11:13-15, Job_34:31-32; Psa_4:4,
Psa_119:59, Psa_139:23-24; Eze_18:28;
Hag_1:5-9; 1Co_11:28, 1Co_11:31;
2Co_13:5
turn: Deu_4:30;
2Ch_30:6, 2Ch_30:9;
Isa_55:7; Hos_6:1,
Hos_12:6, Hos_14:1-3;
Joe_2:12-13; Zec_1:3-4; Act_26:20
Daily Devotions.
Extract from
e-Sword- the sword of the LORD with an
electronic edge.
Through the Bible Day by Day.(F.B Meyer)
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