On this blessed day, I would like to share an excerpt from John Donne’s sermon entitled “Death’s Duel” which reflects on the crucifixion of Christ. When I first read this passage, my eyes welled up with tears. I was deeply moved – overwhelmed by the weight of Christ’s suffering.
“He (Jesus Christ) was inflicted with torments, scourged, crowned with thorns, loaded with scornful and ignominious contumelies and was finally crucified. There now hangs that sacred body upon the cross, re-baptized in his own tears and sweat and embalmed in his own blood alive. There are those bowels of compassion which are so conspicuous, so manifested, as that you may see them through his wounds. There those glorious eyes grew faints in their sight so as the sun ashamed to survive them, departed with his light too.
And then that Son of God, who was never from us, and yet had now come a new way into us is assuming our nature, delivers that soul by a new way, a voluntary emission of it into his Father’s hands. There we leave you in that blessed dependency to hang upon him that hangs upon the cross, there bathe in his tears, there suck at his wounds, and lie down in peace in his grave till he vouchsafe you a resurrection and an ascension into that kingdom which he hath prepared for you with the inestimable price of his incorruptible blood.”
Christ was tortured beyond recognition
As many were astonished at you – his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,
and his form beyond that of the children of mankind
Isaiah 52:14
Christ suffered for our sake
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5
IT WASN’T THE NAILS THAT HELD JESUS TO THE CROSS
BUT HIS LOVE FOR US…
Sweet Jesus and His amazing grace!
Dolly's Sharing 