Chapter 45—The Foreshadowing of the Cross
This chapter is based on
Matthew 16:13-28
;
Mark 8:27-38
;
Luke
9:18-27
.
The work of Christ on earth was hastening to a close. Before Him,
in vivid outline, lay the scenes whither His feet were tending. Even
before He took humanity upon Him, He saw the whole length of the
path He must travel in order to save that which was lost. Every pang
that rent His heart, every insult that was heaped upon His head, every
privation that He was called to endure, was open to His view before
He laid aside His crown and royal robe, and stepped down from the
throne, to clothe His divinity with humanity. The path from the manger
to Calvary was all before His eyes. He knew the anguish that would
come upon Him. He knew it all, and yet He said, “Lo, I come: in the
volume of the Book it is written of Me, I delight to do Thy will, O My
God: yea, Thy law is within My heart.”
Psalm 40:7, 8
.
Ever before Him He saw the result of His mission. His earthly life,
so full of toil and self-sacrifice, was cheered by the prospect that He
would not have all this travail for nought. By giving His life for the life
of men, He would win back the world to its loyalty to God. Although
the baptism of blood must first be received; although the sins of the
world were to weigh upon His innocent soul; although the shadow of
an unspeakable woe was upon Him; yet for the joy that was set before
Him, He chose to endure the cross, and despised the shame.
From the chosen companions of His ministry the scenes that lay
before Him were as yet hidden; but the time was near when they must
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behold His agony. They must see Him whom they had loved and
trusted, delivered into the hands of His enemies, and hung upon the
cross of Calvary. Soon He must leave them to face the world without
the comfort of His visible presence. He knew how bitter hate and
unbelief would persecute them, and He desired to prepare them for
their trials.
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