Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

April 3– Morning

 by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“They took Jesus and led him away.” 

—John 19:16

 

At this point Jesus had little strength left, but he was not allowed to have any refreshment or rest. They were eager for his blood and, therefore, led him out to die, loaded with the cross to walk the way of suffering.

What do we learn as we see our blessed Lord led forth like this? We see nothing less than the fulfillment of the ancient sacrifice of the scapegoat. In the Old Testament, once every year the high-priest would put his hands upon the head of a goat, confessing the sins of the people. With the sins of the people having been assigned to the goat it was then released into the wilderness, carrying away their sins— never again to be found.

Now we see Jesus brought before the priests and rulers who pronounce him guilty. God himself assigns our sins to his account; as Isaiah said, “the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” “He was made sin for us,” bearing our sin upon his shoulders, carrying the cross. We see the Great Scapegoat led away by the appointed officers of justice.

Let me ask you today: Are you certain that Jesus has carried your sin? There is only one way to tell: Have you laid your hand upon his head, confessed your sin, and trusted in him? If so, then your sin is no longer on your account. It has all been transferred to Christ, and he bears it on the cross he shouldered.

Don’t let that picture vanish until you have rejoiced in your own deliverance and have adored the loving Redeemer upon whom your sins were laid. [M&E]