March 22

"In whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins." —Colossians 1:14 (R.V.).

I HAVE redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of my sins.

It was not merely that Jesus was a martyr for the truth He taught. Indeed He was a martyr, and the very Captain and Prince in the noble army. He died to bear witness to the verity and preciousness of His glorious gospel. But there was far more than that, when the sun was darkened and the rocks were rent and the Sufferer yielded up His spirit on the Tree.

It was not merely that Jesus was showing me an example of courage and patience in sorrow. His death does so in pre-eminent fashion; there is no lesson like it. But there was far more than that—the day He cried It is finished! and went through the floods on foot.

It was not merely that Jesus was sharing all my infirmities and griefs, even the last and most awful. He is indeed my Brother, who has descended into the gloom of the valley in front of me. But that is not everything, nor nearly everything.

In my room He died. He bore my sin in His own body to the stark and hateful cross. He became a curse instead of me. He was sore stricken of His God—sore stricken for my healing and health.

And now, and now, I, the culprit, the criminal, with my guilty past, with my helpless present, with my hopeless future, have my redemption in Him. He has exhausted my penalty, He has blotted out the terrible handwriting that was against me.

This is the gospel which is all my boast, and which is mightier than all my necessity.