四月三日

他們就把耶穌帶了去。（約19:17）

他已經被折磨了一夜，他在該亞法的院中被審問了一早晨，於是便從該亞法那裡被解到彼拉多那裡，從彼拉多那裡又解到希律那裡，後來又被解回彼拉多的地方，因此，他已經精疲力盡了。他們急切地要流他的血，使他背著十字架，好達到治死他的目的。多悲慘的景象！多殘忍的人們！多令人心痛的行列呀！耶路撒冷的女子們號啕大哭。我的心哪！你也在哭泣嗎？當我們看到我們可稱頌的主被解往刑場時，我們可以學得些什麼功課呢？阿撒瀉勒（替罪）的羊只不過是個影兒，我們明白這真理嗎？大祭司不是把替罪的羊帶來，雙手按在它的頭上，承認百姓的罪，於是罪便由替罪的羊承當，百姓就不再擔罪名了嗎？之後，人便將羊送往曠野，它就載去百姓的罪，就是他們要找也找不到。現在我們看到耶穌被帶到祭司和官長面前，他們宣佈他的罪名。神把我們的罪狀也歸到他身上，“耶和華使我們眾人的罪孽都歸在他身上”，“他替我們成為罪”；並且，他替代了我們的罪過，十架代表了我們的罪放在他的肩頭上，我們看到這位替罪的羊被法官所委派的人帶去行刑。親愛的，你確實感到他帶去了你的罪嗎？當你仰觀他背上的十架時，那十架是代表著你的罪嗎？有一個方法可以告訴你他是否帶去了你的罪。你曾把你的手放在他的頭上，承認你的罪並倚靠他嗎？那末你的罪就不在你身上了，讚美主，我們的罪都歸到基督身上了，他把罪擔在肩頭上，比十字架還要沉重許多。在你沒有得到被釋之樂，在你沒有敬拜擔當你罪的救贖主之前，你切不要叫這一幅畫面從你眼前消失呀！

April 3

"They took Jesus, and led Him away." --John 19:16

He had been all night in agony, He had spent the early morning at the hall of Caiaphas, He had been hurried from Caiaphas to Pilate, from Pilate to Herod, and from Herod back again to Pilate; He had, therefore, but little strength left, and yet neither refreshment nor rest were permitted Him. They were eager for His blood, and therefore led Him out to die, loaded with the cross. O dolorous procession! Well may Salem's daughters weep. My soul, do thou weep also.

What learn we here as we see our blessed Lord led forth? Do we not perceive that truth which was set forth in shadow by the scapegoat? Did not the high-priest bring the scapegoat, and put both his hands upon its head, confessing the sins of the people, that thus those sins might be laid upon the goat, and cease from the people? Then the goat was led away by a fit man into the wilderness, and it carried away the sins of the people, so that if they were sought for they could not be found. Now we see Jesus brought before the priests and rulers, who pronounce Him guilty; God Himself imputes our sins to Him, "the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all;" "He was made sin for us;" and, as the substitute for our guilt, bearing our sin upon His shoulders, represented by the cross; we see the great Scapegoat led away by the appointed officers of justice. Beloved, can you feel assured that He carried your sin? As you look at the cross upon His shoulders, does it represent your sin? There is one way by which you can tell whether He carried your sin or not. Have you laid your hand upon His head, confessed your sin, and trusted in Him? Then your sin lies not on you; it has all been transferred by blessed imputation to Christ, and He bears it on His shoulder as a load heavier than the cross.

Let not the picture vanish till you have rejoiced in your own deliverance, and adored the loving Redeemer upon whom your iniquities were laid.