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CHRIST’S RESIGNATION
THE sight of one in affliction necessarily produces some emotion of pity in our breasts, if we be not dead to all the feelings of humanity. But if there be majesty in distress, and that majesty be accompanied with consummate goodness, we take a deeper interest in all the circumstances exhibited to our view. Behold then a spectacle, such as the world never saw before, never will see again! a sufferer, infinitely superior to the highest archangel in dignity and worth! a suffering God! Let us draw nigh with reverence, and learn from his own lips,
I. The depth of his troubles—
Man had not yet touched his body; nor, whatever weight we may give to his apprehension of bodily sufferings, can we suppose that it was that alone, or that chiefly, which drew forth these bitter complaints.
His soul was now enduring the severest agonies—
[He particularly says, “Now is my soul troubled.” If it be asked, What was the source of his troubles? we answer, he was now sustaining the wrath of God, and conflicting with all the powers of darkness.
It had been foretold that the Father should bruise his Son [Note: Isa_53:10. first part.], and smite him with the sword [Note: Zec_13:7.] of his inexorable justice. And now the season was come for the accomplishment of these prophecies. The wrath of God was the punishment due to sin: and that wrath Jesus was now enduring: yes; in order that he might redeem us from the curse of the law, he himself was become a curse [Note: Gal_3:10; Gal_3:13.].
But it had also been foretold that the “Serpent should bruise his heel [Note: Gen_3:15.].” And he himself had just before said, that the prince of this world was coming to assault him [Note: Joh_14:30; Joh_12:31.]. Satan, when first our Lord entered on his ministry, had made repeated efforts to destroy him [Note: Luk_4:2-12.]; and, though foiled and vanquished, he retreated only for a season [Note: Luk_4:13.], determining to renew his assaults with increased vigour. This therefore seeming an opportunity peculiarly favourable to his designs, he failed not to improve it. He summoned all his principalities and powers to unite their efforts [Note: Col_2:15.]: and O, how desperate was their attack! Our blessed Lord himself, though victorious in the conflict, had almost fainted, if angels had not been sent from heaven to succour and support him [Note: Mat_4:11.].]
Under these agonies he was reduced to the greatest embarrassment—
[Never was he embarrassed through the persecutions or cruelties of man: but when he endured the wrath of God, and the assaults of Satan, he could not but complain of his accumulated troubles: yea, so was he distressed, that he was at a loss what to say, or what to do. His nature dictated a prayer, which however he afterwards saw occasion to revoke. He begged that the cup might pass from him, and that he might be saved from that tremendous hour [Note: Some read the words with an interrogation; thus: “What shall I say? Father, save me from this hour?” But our translation seems preferable, if we compare the account in Mat_26:38-42.]. Nor was this petition in the least degree inconsistent with his fortitude or resignation. It shewed him to be a man; and it was such a petition as he might offer with perfect innocence; seeing that to dread and deprecate the wrath of God is not only lawful but our bounden duty.]
Recovering himself, however, he welcomes his afflictions, and states,
II. The grounds of his submission to them—
1. It was with a view to those very sufferings that he had come to that hour—
[These sufferings had been foreseen, when he first engaged to redeem a fallen world [Note: Isa_53:10. latter part.]; and he had then stipulated to bear them for our sakes [Note: Psa_40:7-8.].” It was with a view to them that he had assumed our nature, without which he would have been incapable of bearing them [Note: Heb_2:9; Heb_2:14-15.]. And throughout the whole of his ministry he had frequently adverted to them as what he should undergo, as soon as his hour was fully come [Note: Luk_18:32-33.]. Yea, he had reproved Peter with great severity for attempting to dissuade him from his purpose [Note: Mat_16:21-23]: and had expressed his eager “desire to be baptized with that bloody baptism,” being greatly “straitened till it should be accomplished [Note: Luk_12:50.].” And would he now recede? would he shrink from the trial now it was come upon him? would he rescind his own voluntary engagements, and abandon the work he had undertaken? No: difficult as it was to submit to these sufferings, he determined to endure them, since the purposes of his grace could in no other way be accomplished.]
2. They were necessary for the promoting of his Father’s glory—
[This is strongly intimated in the latter petition. The Father’s justice could not have been so much glorified even in the destruction of the whole human race, as in the sufferings of his co-equal co-eternal Son: in these it appeared altogether inflexible. And how glorious would be the display of the Father’s love, when it was seen that he had adopted such a method of restoring man to his favour! Yea, how would every perfection shine forth in this stupendous mystery! Would Jesus then sacrifice the Father’s glory to his present feelings? When the Father had already glorified him by repeated attestations from heaven, and by so many miracles, would Jesus now draw back, and rob the Father of all the glory that was to accrue to him from this dark and painful dispensation? No, by no means; and therefore he not only acquiesces in the appointment, but even prays, that, whatever he himself might endure, God would glorify his own name.]
This subject is capable of most useful improvement—
1. For the awakening of our fears—
[These sorrows were the just reward of our sins: and every one on whom sin shall be found must sustain them. Go then, ye who make a mock at sin, go follow at your ease the imaginations of your own hearts. Ye who think it unnecessary to repent of sin, go on in your impenitence; but consider, and learn, “if these things were done in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry [Note: Luk_23:31.]?” If the curse due to sin so overwhelmed the Lord of glory himself in the space of one hour, what effect shall it produce on you to all eternity? Then no supplication can remove, nor any submission mitigate, our anguish. This, this alone, is the time for prayer. If then we would escape the wrath of Almighty God, let us flee instantly to this very Saviour, whose blood can cleanse us from the guilt of sin, and whose grace can rescue us from its dominion.]
2. For the encouraging of our hopes—
[What do we owe to the adorable Saviour, for that, in the hour of his extremity, he did not recede? But he saved not himself, that he might save us: “He gave up his own life, that he might ransom us;” and drank, even to the dregs, the cup of bitterness, that he might take it out of our hands for evermore. Let all then rest assured, that the debt once discharged by our great Surety, shall never be required at our hands, provided we believe in him.]
3. For the regulating of our conduct—
[There is no sin in praying for the removal of afflictions, provided we be willing, on the whole, that God’s will should be done in preference to our own. But, when we see what the Lord’s will is, we must say, “The cup which my Father has given me, shall I not drink it?” We must desire above all things the glory of God: and cheerfully acquiesce in any dispensation, provided God may be honoured by it.]