April 27

Isaiah 53:10
THE four accounts of the crucifixion taken together give us the full meaning of the work of the cross. Jesus is presented as enduring the shame and physical anguish inflicted upon Him by man for three awful hours. In that period He gave no evidence of perturbation of spirit. He was in perfect communion with the Father, and manifested a tender concern for others, but there was no word of self-pity or commiseration for His own sufferings. But in the last three hours He was enduring the terrible ordeal of bearing the judgment our sins deserved. His cry of loneliness is the key to the deeper suffering of those hours of darkness when God, the righteous Judge, had to abandon Him to the inward spiritual suffering as the Surety for sinners. It was then His soul—not merely His body—was made an offering for sin,
“The Holy One who knew no sin
God made Him sin for us,
The Saviour died our souls to win
Upon the cruel cross.
His beauty shineth far above
Our feeble powers of praise,
And we shall live and learn His love
Through everlasting days.”
—H. K. Burlingham.