A short sentence, replete with the greatest importance to a world of sinners: each word in it contains matter of sorrow, wonder and joy. Here is a fund for meditation. O christian, time can never explore its depths: it will be the glory of eternity to sing of, wonder and adore a once crucified Jesus. Let us consider the agents–the work –and the subject.
They crucified him. Who? Angels? No; they gaze and wonder at the cruel, awful deed, but share not in it. Devils? No; they instigate to it, they shout and applaud the deed, but effect it not. No; the work is done by beings a little lower than the angels, by men–men of devilish natures, cursed passions, and wicked hands: with these they seize the innocent victim, doomed to direful agonies and an accursed death.
"They crucified." O the bloody deed! Heaven that hour let fall a tear. There hangs –who! A man like us? Yes, but immaculate, innocent: yea more, the Son of God: God and man in one Christ. The Lord of life and glory hung a spectacle to men and angels: nailed his innocent hands and tender feet to the transverse wood, to bleed, and groan, and die.
Consider the subject, HIM: Jesus Christ, the anointed Saviour. As God, he loved sinners from all eternity: as man, he was born to make sinners righteous by his obedience unto death. The work is done: on the cross he finished it. What are the effects?
Ever view then, O soul, the sovereign cure of death, the eternal source of life; God and man in one Christ, on the accursed tree, to make thee blessed and happy. Such is the love of thy Saviour: such is his salvation. Where is your faith? O look, and look, and look again, till your whole soul loves him. Is sin your grief and burden? O, the load of pain and grief which Jesus bore! "The iniquities of us all:" he has taken them away by his one sacrifice. Remember this: plead this before the Lord; the faith of this brings hope to the most desperate and vile: the best of saints have no other. With this faith and this hope thou mayest draw nigh to God; plead boldly before him; face death, and resist and repel Satan with thy Saviour's dying words, "It is finished."