ALL was excitement on that preparation day, about one thousand eight hundred and sixty years ago. Centuries have rolled by since that time, but years nor ages can ever obliterate the record of that day’s transaction.
It was “the preparation day,” when the eons of Israel made preparation to keep the memorial of their deliverance out of Egypt, when under the shelter of the blood of the lamb they went out freed from the oppressor’s yoke and bondage. And was this the cause of all that was taking place on that memorable day, which stands out, never to be erased from the page of this world’s history? Nay. It was indeed “the preparation day,” when God’s Lamb was being prepared for the sacrifice, and His blood about to be shed to accomplish a deliverance far greater and wider-reaching than that out of Egypt.
“A lamb without blemish and without spot” was He; for only such could meet the claims of a holy God. “Knowing no sin” (2 Cor. 5:21); “he did no sin” (1 Peter 2:22); for “in him is no sin” (1 John 3:5). Yet He was made a sacrifice for sin upon the cross. “He 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. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken” (Isa. 53:7, 8).
On the eve of that preparation day, full of love for His own, ―whom having loved in the world, He loved on to the end, ―Jesus gathered them around Himself in “a large upper room furnished,” where the last supper was partaken of together. And there too He instituted that supper―the Lord’s Supper―of such deep meaning to those who have tasted of His love. Having taken the bread, He broke it, and gave it unto them, saying, “This do in remembrance of me.” And also the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:23).
When supper was ended, full of love and tenderness, His last loving act was rendered to. His disciples, for, taking a towel and basin of water, He stooped low to wash their feet; and then into their ears poured those sweet messages of comfort and love, which thrill our hearts even now as we read them (see John 13 to 18).
At last the hour had come when He must give Himself up to die; and leaving the house with His disciples, He entered the darkness, and passed over the brook Cedron, into the garden of Gethsemane, where the shades of a still darker night were gathering. In the garden He poured forth His soul to the Father, praying that if it were possible the bitter cup of wrath might pass from, Him; but in calm submission to His holy will He could say, “Not my will, but thine be done.” Then a band of men, headed by Judas, one of His disciples who had betrayed Him, came and seized Him; submitting to their will, He allowed Himself to be bound, and they led Him away to imprisonment and death. First of all they led Him to the high-priest, who, instituting a mock trial, judged Him to be worthy of death. Next they led Him, to Pilate the Roman conqueror, that he might give sentence against Him. Pilate sought to release Him, but they were loud in their acclamations that He should be crucified. At last the choice was to be finally made as to which they would choose―Jesus, or Barabbas; the Saviour, or a thief; the Lord of life, or a murderer. The die was cast, a robber was chosen, and Christ rejected. Oh, world, is this thy, choice? “Not this man but Barabbas,” was the united cry; and thus God’s beloved Son was refused, and the One whom Heaven has accepted, rejected by Jews and Gentiles. Reader, what is thy choice? on whose side art thou? That of the world which rejected Him, of which act it has never repented, or on the side of Him whom God has exalted above all heavens?
Herod and his soldiers set Him at naught, and found their pleasure in mocking Him. Behold Him as He comes forth, clad in royal vestments: not as a mighty conqueror treading His enemies beneath His feet, ―that He will do in a later day; not honored with kingly honors, but crowned with a crown, and that of thorns! Men bow before Him, as though to do Him homage, bit it is done in bitter mockery. Soon every knee shall bow before Him! but here, all come forward, to pay a tribute of dishonor to the Son of God, as though to see which could put Him to the greatest shame. At last they nailed Him to the cross, where priests and people, barbarian soldiers and malefactors, railed on Him; until thick darkness at noon-day wrapped the scene, as though nature veiled itself, when, amid the sorrows of that cross of shame, the peerless Lamb of God bowed His head in death.
Such was the scene enacted on that preparation day of old, when God’s Lamb died that shameful death, bearing sin’s great load. God was there glorified in putting away sin forever; and there the sinner’s deep need was met in the shedding of that precious blood which cleanseth from all sin.
And what now remains? The eternal fruits of that day’s toil, ―fruit to the glory of God, and fruit to Jesus, “for he shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.”
That preparation day and its results can never be forgotten throughout eternity. Your eternity hangs on it. Where will you spend it? In heaven, or in hell?
E. E. N.