*"And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead." Mark 15:44 *
*Precious Jesus! had the unjust judge but known thy soul travail and
agonies, instead of wondering at the speediness of thy death, all his
astonishment would have been that nature, so oppressed, and so
suffering, could have held out so long; for what would have crushed in a
moment all creation, as well angels as men, in sustaining the wrath of
God, due to sin, Jesus endured on the cross for so many hours! In point
of suffering, he wrought out a whole eternity due to sin, on the cross:
and in point of efficacy, he "for ever perfected them that are
sanctified." *
*Jesus therefore accomplished more in that memorable day, than all the
creatures of God could have done for ever. Wonderful were the works
which God dispatched in creation; but the wonders of redemption far
exceed them. The six hours which Jesus hung upon the cross, wrought out
a more stupendous display of almighty power and grace, than the six days
God was pleased to appoint to himself in making the world. But, indeed,
Pilate need not, on another account, have marvelled at the quickness of
Christ's death, had this unjust judge but reflected on the previous
sufferings of the Redeemer. They who have spent sweet hours in tracing
Jesus's footsteps through the painful preludes to his death, and
especially in the concluding scenes, have been able to mark many a
sorrowful part which (besides the soul agonies of Jesus in accomplishing
redemption-work) bore hard upon his body also. *
*My soul, if thou wert to trace back the solemn subject, thou wouldest
find enough to excite thy astonishment that Jesus lived so long on the
cross, rather than that he died not before. His agony evidently began
four days before the passover. The evangelist Luke tells us, that he
spent the whole night in prayer, and the whole day in preaching to the
people in the temple, Luke 21: 37, 38. Read also Matthew's account four
days before his crucifixion, in the prospect of what was coming on,
Matthew 20:18, 19. *
*And again, before a single assault was made upon him in the garden,
Matthew 26:38. "My soul is exceeding sorrowful," said the dying Lamb,"
even unto death. "And the beloved apostle's relation is to the same
amount, four days before his crucifixion: "Now is my soul troubled (said
the holy sufferer); and what shall I say? Father, save me from this
hour! But for this cause came I unto this hour!" John 12:27. And if to
these agonies of soul, before the tremendous season of Gethsemane and
Golgotha arrived, be added the exercises of the Redeemer in body; all
must have contributed to wear out and exhaust his strength, and hasten
on the pains of death. *
*When we call to mind how the Lamb of God was driven to and fro; hurried
from one place to another; from Annas to Caiaphas, and from the judgment
hall to Calvary; we cannot be surprised at his fainting under the burden
of the cross. Many a mile of weariness did he walk, before nine of the
o'clock in the morning of the day of his crucifixon; and many a bodily
fainting must he have felt from the thorny crown, the soldiers
scourging, and their buffetings and smitings with the palms of their
hands. Unfeeling Pilate! thy marvellings will be now, and to all
eternity, of another kind. *
*As for thee, my soul, take thy stand at the foot of the cross, and do
thou marvel, whilst thou art looking up, and beholding Jesus dying, that
He who might have commanded twelve legions of angels to his rescue,
should in love to his church and people, thus give "his soul an offering
for sin," and die," the just for the unjust, to bring us unto God! *
*Robert Hawker (1753-1827) ***