TDR: 26 April (John 19:5)

‘Behold the Man’ (John 19:5)

Jesus is presented before you crowned with thorns, scourged, with His face so marred beyond recognition. His blood is flowing. His heart is breaking, and here He is: a Man of sorrows.

Behold Him then, for in this Man, under these circumstances, dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead within His body; all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. In Him, the love of God centred and shone forth. He is the only foundation of His Church’s hopes, the only source of eternal salvation. He is Jehovah’s first-born, His only-begotten Son, the express image of His person.

He is your Substitute, Surety, and Redeemer. He is the holy, harmless, and undefiled Lamb of God; taking away the sin of the world. Behold Him, for here He demonstrates the depth of His love; and teaches you patience, meekness and resignation under insult, suffering and disgrace.

Behold Jesus, and be ashamed of your dejection and complaining, your indulging and any revengeful feelings.

Behold and imitate! Behold and love! Behold and adore!

Wounded head! Back ploughed with furrows!
Visage marr’d! Behold the Man!
Eyes how dim, how full of sorrows!
Sunk with grief, behold the Man!
Lamb of God, led to the slaughter,
Melted, poured out like water;
Should not love my heart inflame,
Viewing Thee, thou slaughter’d Lamb?

THE DAILY REMEMBRANCER by James Smith (1802-1862)

Journal Jottings

‘How striking are the apostle’s words, “Walk in wisdom toward them which are without, redeeming the time” [Colossians 4:5]. I feel deeply impressed, convinced, and condemned by them; but for the atonement, how wretched I must be, when I compare myself with the precepts of God’s holy gospel. I fly to my Redeemer’s precious blood for comfort, but not to sanction my sin. God forbid!

What a dreadful state I was in once, without God – without hope – without Christ – without the Church – in this fearful case are thousands all around me.’