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The Cross of Calvary, February 28
And 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.
Luke 23:33
.
The cross of Calvary appeals in power, affording a reason why we
should love Christ now, and why we should consider Him first, and best,
and last, in everything. We should take our fitting place in humble penitence
at the foot of the cross. We may learn the lessons of meekness and lowliness
of mind as we go up to Mount Calvary, and, looking upon the cross, see
our Saviour in agony, the Son of God dying, the Just for the unjust. Behold
Him who could summon legions of angels to His assistance with one word,
a subject of jest and merriment, of reviling and hatred. He gives Himself a
sacrifice for sin. When reviled, He threatened not; when falsely accused,
He opened not His mouth. He prays on the cross for His murderers. He
is dying for them. He is paying an infinite price for every one of them.
He would not lose one whom He has purchased at so great cost. He
gives Himself to be smitten and scourged without a murmur. And this
uncomplaining victim is the Son of God. His throne is from everlasting,
and His kingdom shall have no end.... Look, O look upon the cross of
Calvary; behold the royal victim suffering on your account....
The Son of God was rejected and despised for our sakes. Can you, in
full view of the cross, beholding by the eye of faith the sufferings of Christ,
tell your tale of woe, your trials? Can you nurse revenge of your enemies
in your heart while the prayer of Christ comes from His pale and quivering
lips for His revilers, His murderers—“Father, forgive them; for they know
not what they do” (
Luke 23:34
)? ...
We must not shrink from the depths of humiliation to which the Son of
God submitted in order to raise us from the degradation and bondage of sin
to a seat at His right hand.... It is high time we devoted the few remaining
precious hours of our probation to washing our robes of character and
making them white in the blood of the Lamb, that we may be of that
white-robed company who shall stand about the great white throne
[66]
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The Review and Herald, August 2, 1881
.
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