by Rev. D. M. MacDonald, Edinburgh
Calvary
This mount was a place of execution outside of but near to the city of Jerusalem, and on it the Saviour was crucified. The last utterances of righteous men have been treasured by many and given comfort to them so that it is with feelings of reverence and wonder that we should consider the last words of the Saviour on the Cross. Before this he had been arrested in the garden of Gethsemane where he had a foretaste of the dreadful sufferings He was to endure up to the time of his death. When He was taken to the house of the High Priest his rude and barbarous servants abused Him and would not allow Him to rest one minute, although he had had no sleep all night. They mocked, insulted, and miscalled Him. As soon as possible He was taken before the Jewish Council and they decided to charge Him before Pilate the Roman Governor with stirring up the people to rebel against Cæsar. After considering their accusations he declared that he found no fault in Him. Then Pilate offered to release Him, but they said that he could set free Barabbas, a robber, and demanded that Jesus should be crucified. Contrary to his own convictions and inclinations, the Governor gave sentence that it should be as they required. Here judgment was turned away backward and justice stood afar off for fear of popular fury. He was scourged, and his brow lacerated with a crown of thorns, His cheeks mangled by cruel hands and exhausted in body, He was compelled to bear His cross until they laid it on Simon, a Cyrenian that he might bear it after Him to Golgotha. There He was crucified between two thieves, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. They both reviled Him at first and soon one of them repented and felt his need of salvation so that he was changed in his mind and his speech. He began to rebuke his companion for his unseemly language, and acknowledged the justice of the sentence passed on them both. Then he prayed in these words, “Lord remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.” Jesus answered saying, “Today, thou shalt be with me in paradise.” What an amazing change took place in the soul of this poor sinner when at the eleventh hour he was saved on the brink of Hell by the exercise of faith on the Saviour, who in his dying moments had compassion on him and prepared him for glory. During 24 hours He was in three kingdoms, the kingdom of darkness, the kingdom of grace, and finally the kingdom of glory. The lesson taught by the conversion of the malefactor is that no one should presume that he will be saved on a dying bed, and no one should despair if he makes proper use of the day of opportunity.
Remarkable prodigies accompanied the Crucifixion. The sun was darkened for three hours and the air was clouded causing thick darkness over all the earth. The vail of the temple was rent in the midst signifying that the Old Testament Dispensation was now to end and the New Testament Dispensation was to begin. The eclipse of the sun and the pall that followed might be regarded as a sign of mourning at the terrible spectacle of the Eternal Son of God being crucified and slain by wicked hands as the Apostle Peter says.
After receiving the vinegar the Saviour cried with a loud voice, “It is finished.” He then bowed His head and gave up the Ghost. The original Greek has just one word “Finished.” The word is very comprehensive and we shall now consider briefly its various implications. The malice and enmity of His persecutors had been manifested to the end and they could do no more. Satan had done his utmost to prevent Christ from finishing the work of redemption by various temptations. Satan appears to be at the head of a vast confederacy of evil spirits in league against the world, and the Son of God was manifested to destroy the works of the devil. In His farewell address to the Apostles He said, “This is your hour, and the power of darkness,” and again, “Now is the Judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” We may believe that He had to contend with this formidable foe in the olive-garden when three times He rose from his posture of agony to warn the disciples of the tempter’s presence and wiles—” Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.” The same Spirit of evil followed Him to Calvary employing professedly religious and wicked men to revile and insult Him in His dying moments. The Psalmist in that Messianic, beautiful — Ps. 22 — describes the conflicts and triumphs of Christ, mentions that in one of His last prayers He asks to be delivered from a roaring lion, mightier than the rest. ” Save me from the lion’s mouth.” The prayer is heard. The next utterance is a burst of triumph to the end of the Psalm. Satan is defeated.
The work given to Him by the Father was now finished and He was satisfied and glorified. The types and prophecies of the Old Testament which pointed to the sufferings of the Messiah were accomplished and answered, such as, His being sold for 30 pieces of silver, His hands and feet being pierced, and His garments being divided. The ceremonial law is abolished as the substance had now come and the shadows are done away with. The Lamb of God was sacrificed to take away the sin of the world, Heb. ix: 26, He made reconciliation for iniquity, and brought in everlasting righteousness. The great work of man’s redemption was completed, Satan was conquered, principalities and powers spoiled, the Law satisfied, full satisfaction was given to the inflexible justice of God and a foundation of peace and happiness laid that shall never fail. The death of the Lord Jesus was voluntary, it was not extracted from Him but freely resigned which is implied in His own expression, ” Father into Thy hands, I commit My spirit.”
The last words of the Saviour were an intimation to the whole world, to His own people in it, to perishing sinners, to the self-righteous, to backsliders; and all are welcome to the salvation without money and without price that He offers them.