Morning     “He was numbered with the transgressors.”

Isaiah 53:12

Why did Jesus suffer himself to be enrolled amongst sinners? This wonderful

condescension was justified by many powerful reasons. In such a character he

could the better become their advocate. In some trials there is an

identification of the counsellor with the client, nor can they be looked upon in

the eye of the law as apart from one another. Now, when the sinner is brought to

the bar, Jesus appears there himself. He stands to answer the accusation. He

points to his side, his hands, his feet, and challenges Justice to bring

anything against the sinners whom he represents; he pleads his blood, and pleads

so triumphantly, being numbered with them and having a part with them, that the

Judge   proclaims, “Let them go their way; deliver them from going down into the pit,

for he hath found a ransom.” Our Lord Jesus was numbered with the transgressors

in order that they might feel their hearts drawn towards him. Who can be afraid

of one who is written in the same list with us? Surely we may come boldly to

him, and confess our guilt. He who is numbered with us cannot condemn us. Was he

not put down in the transgressor’s list that we might be written in the red roll

of the saints? He was holy, and written among the holy; we were guilty, and

numbered among the guilty; he transfers his name from yonder list to this black

indictment, and our names are taken from the indictment and

written in the roll of acceptance, for there is a complete transfer made

between Jesus and his people. All our estate of misery and sin Jesus has taken;

and all that Jesus has comes to us. His righteousness, his blood, and everything

that he hath he gives us as our dowry. Rejoice, believer, in your union to him

who was numbered among the transgressors; and prove that you are truly saved by

being manifestly numbered with those who are new creatures in him.

 

Evening     “Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.”

Lamentations 3:40

The spouse who fondly loves her absent husband longs for his return; a long

protracted separation from her lord is a semi-death to her spirit: and so with

souls who love the Saviour much, they must see his face, they cannot bear that

he should be away upon the mountains of Bether, and no more hold communion with

them. A reproaching glance, an uplifted finger will be grievous to loving

children, who fear to offend their tender father, and are only happy in his

smile. Beloved, it was so once with you. A text of Scripture, a threatening, a

touch of the rod of affliction, and you went to your Father’s feet, crying,

“Show me wherefore thou contendest with me?” Is it so now? Are you content to

follow Jesus afar off? Can you contemplate suspended communion with Christ

without alarm? Can you bear to have your Beloved walking contrary to you,

because you walk contrary to him? Have your sins separated between you and your

God, and is your heart at rest? O let me affectionately warn you, for it is a

grievous thing when we can live contentedly without the present enjoyment of the

Saviour’s face. Let us labour to feel what an evil thing this is–little love to

our own dying Saviour, little joy in our precious Jesus, little fellowship with

the Beloved! Hold a true Lent in your souls, while you sorrow over your hardness

of heart. Do not stop at sorrow! Remember where you first received

salvation. Go at once to the cross. There, and there only, can you get your

spirit quickened. No matter how hard, how insensible, how dead we may have

become, let us go again in all the rags and poverty, and defilement of our

natural condition. Let us clasp that cross, let us look into those languid eyes,

let us bathe in that fountain filled with blood–this will bring back to us our

first love; this will restore the simplicity of our faith, and the tenderness of

our heart.