May 18

He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5.

The Jews took Jesus to the Roman governor and prevailed on him to put Jesus to death. Having condemned Him under a false pretense in their own council, they brought another false accusation against Him before Pilate. They accused Him of attempting to

instigate a revolt against the Romans and to set Himself up as king. The chief priests well knew that there was not a shadow of truth in this accusation. To Pilate also the falsity of this accusation was well known, and he washed his hands to show that he did not want the guilt of condemning this innocent man to rest on his conscience.

But, however innocent Jesus was, all were against Him. One of His own disciples betrayed Him, another denied Him. And not only men were against Him; God, too, was against Him; He smote Him, and while He was hanging upon the cross, He also, for a time, forsook Him. The wrath and curse of God resting on His soul caused Him infinitely more anguish and torment than all the tortures which men could inflict upon Him. Of this torment the prophet Isaiah said: "It pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief." All other pain He could bear without a groan. The scoffing and mocking of His merciless enemies could only move Him to pray for them. The torments inflicted upon His body could not open His mouth; He was dumb as a sheep before his shearers. Even when the sorrows of hell compassed Him about and the ravenings of the devil terrified His soul, He did not remonstrate, as long as He could press all the closer to His heavenly Father's bosom. But when even His Father forsook Him, it approached the limit of endurance for Him. He complained: "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" Yes, why?

Prayer.

Lord Jesus Christ, Thou innocent Lamb of God, without blemish and without spot, Thou didst suffer for us, the Just for the unjust. Thou didst not shrink from the shameful death of a criminal in order to gain for us the favor of God. For our disobedience Thou wast obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Thy precious blood cleanses us from all sin. Thy death secures us against eternal death. Praise and glory be to Thy holy name forever and ever! Amen.

Stricken, smitten, and afflicted, See Him dying on the tree! 'Tis the Christ, by man rejected; Yes, my soul, 'tis He! 'tis He! 'Tis the long expected Prophet, David's Son, yet David's Lord; Proofs I see sufficient of it: 'Tis the true and faithful Word.