April 3 | Morning

0:00April 3rd, morning. So they took Jesus and he went out. John chapter 19 verses 16-17. He had spent the night in agony, and in the early morning he was hurried from the hall of Caiaphas to Pilate, from Pilate to Herod, and from Herod back again to Pilate. Consequently, his strength was almost gone, but he was granted neither food nor rest. They were eager for his blood, and therefore led him out to die, burdened with a cross. At this sad procession, the women wept, and my soul weeps in turn. What do we learn here, as we see our blessed Lord, led forth? Do we not perceive the truth, which was foreshadowed in the scapegoat? Remember how the high priests brought the scapegoat and put both his hands upon its head, confessing the sins of

1:03the people, so that those sins might be transferred from the people and laid upon the goat? Then the goat was led away into the wilderness, and it carried away the sins of the people, so that if they looked for them, 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 has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He made Him to be sin. 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? Confess your sin and trust it in Him.

2:06Then your sin no longer lies on you. It has all been transferred by blessed imputation to Christ, and He bears His on His shoulders as a load heavier than the cross. Do not allow this picture to disappear until you have rejoiced in your own deliverance, and bowed in a doering wander before the Redeemer upon whom your iniquities were laid. The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.