Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/748

 “Indeed this  was  the  Son  of  God.”  And  all  the  multitude  of them  that  were  come  together  to  that  sight returned  to  Jerusalem striking their  breasts.

The vicarious  Sacrifice  and  Death  of  Jesus.  The  great  work  entrusted by the  Eternal  Father  to  His  Son  is  consummated! That which  the types foreshadowed,  which  the  just  longed  for,  and  the  prophets  foretold, is accomplished! Jesus Christ  was  born  in  poverty  and  humility,  lived a life of  toil  and  hardship,  poverty  and  persecution  for  thirty-three  years, and at  the  end  of  it  died  a painful  and  disgraceful  death. Those Eyes which  beamed  with  gentleness  and  kindness  are  shut; that  Mouth which spoke  comfort  to  the  afflicted  and  peace  to  all  men  is  closed; those Hands  which  bestowed  benefits  all  around  are  powerless;  those Feet which  left  traces  of  blessings  wherever  they  went  are  stiff; that  Heart which beat  with  love  for  all  men  is  cold  and  dead! The Good  Shepherd has given  His  life  for  His  sheep; the  true  Paschal  Lamb  has  been  slain, and has  delivered  us  from  the  slavery  of  sin  and  of  Satan,  and  opened to us  the  way  into  the  Promised  Land  of  heaven. He gave  Himself over to  a violent  death  in  the  very  prime  of  His  Manhood  and  in  the height of  health  and  strength,  to  redeem  us  from  sin  and  eternal  death, and to  win  for  us  grace  and  eternal  life. The guiltless  died  for  the guilty; and  the  Most  Holy  for  the  sinner. We have  indeed  been  “bought with a great  price”  (1  Con.  6,  20).

The Divinity  of  our  Lord  was  made  manifest  at  His  Death  by  His words and  His  deeds,  a)  Jesus,  when  dying,  addressed  God  as  His Father,  and  thus,  with  His  last  words,  testified  to  His  Divinity,  b)  Inanimate nature  bore  witness  that  the  most  terrible  of  crimes,  even  the murder of  God,  had  taken  place  on  Calvary. The sun  hid  itself  so  as not  to  witness  the  death  agony  of  the  “Sun  of  justice”; the  earth  heaved and the  rocks  rent  themselves  asunder,  for  He  who  laid  the  foundations of the  earth  and  built  the  mountains  was  dying! Even the  kingdom  of the  dead  (by  the  opening  of  the  graves)  testified  that  the  Lord  of  life had conquered  death  by  His  Death.

The abandonment  by  God  was  suffered  by  our  Lord  in  satisfaction for our  sins,  whereby  we  have  forsaken  God  and  deserved  to  be  eternally