The Divine Calmness of Christ, Even on the Cross

From: Girdle of Truth: Volume 1

Luke 23:27‑45 • 2 min. read • grade level: 7

Note on Luke 23:27-45²⁷And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. ²⁸But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. ²⁹For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. ³⁰Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. ³¹For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? ³²And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. ³³And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. ³⁴Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. ³⁵And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. ³⁶And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, ³⁷And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. ³⁸And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. ³⁹And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. ⁴⁰But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? ⁴¹And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. ⁴²And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. ⁴³And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. ⁴⁴And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. ⁴⁵And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. (Luke 23:27‑45)

It is lovely to see how the Lord does not merely show a resignation under trial, produced by an effort which makes Him bow,—and yet be absorbed by it, as we often are,—but a perfect obedience and acceptance of His Father's will, such that He rises altogether above it, so as to be quite free, to be in the fullness of, and to express just what grace would do; or, if needed, truth also, in that which was presented to Him.

Thus, when led to the cross, to the women He says, " Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children; for the days come," &c. Then, when speaking on the cross for Israel He says, " Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." This was the one and only ground which could be good for Israel. The Holy Ghost answered to it in Peter's sermon; and Paul refers to the principle. Then to the thief on the cross He says, " Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." There was the full present effect of His work and salvation.

Now how perfectly calm—as if He had only to teach in grace from heaven—is all this; and in the perfect appropriateness in each case which divine clearness could give. And how wide the scope of instruction! The judgment of Jerusalem,—the ground on which the Jews might be forgiven in virtue of the cross,—and the full present blessing in virtue of the cross, short of resurrection, not yet accomplished. The whole scope of truth was here.

Thus, if we quietly do that which is given, and trust God in the peaceful answer to what is brought before us, what wide-spread power of truth comes in.

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