Morning, April 3 . Go To Evening Reading "They took Jesus, and led him away." —John 19:16 He had been all night in agony, he had spent the early morning at the hall of Caiaphas, he had been hurried from Caiaphas to Pilate, from Pilate to Herod, and from Herod back again to Pilate; he had, therefore, but little strength left, and yet neither refreshment nor rest were permitted him. They were eager for his blood and, thus, led him out to die, loaded with the cross. O dolorous procession! Well may Salem's daughters weep. My soul, do thou weep also. What do we learn here as we see our blessed Lord led forth? Do we not perceive that truth outlined in shadow by the scapegoat, not the high-priest, brings the scapegoat, puts both his hands upon its head, confessing the people's sins, that thus those sins might be laid upon the goat, and cease from the people? Then the goat was led away by a fit man into the wilderness, and it carried away the people's sins, so t...
Day 4 - Wednesday | Daily Devotions | Morning and Evening: Daily Reading | Connect the Testaments | My Utmost for His Highest | Thoughts for the Quiet Hour |
Morning, April 2 . Go To Evening Reading "He answered him with never a word." —Matthew 27:14 He had never been slow of speech when he could bless the sons of men, but he would not say a single word for himself. "Ever man spake like this man," "never man was silent like him. Was this singular silence the index of his perfect self-sacrifice ? Did it show that he would not utter a word to stay the slaughter of his sacred person, which he had dedicated as an offering for us? Had he so entirely surrendered himself that he would not interfere in his own behalf, even in the minutest degree, but be bound and slain an unstruggling, uncomplaining victim? Was this silence a type of defencelessness against sin? Nothing can be said in palliation or excuse of human guilt; therefore, he who bore its whole weight stood speechless before his judge. Is not patient silence the best reply to a gainsaying world ? Calm endurance answers some questions infinitely more conclusi...