We never read that Jesus Christ was more cheerful in all his life on
earth, than when he was going to lay down his life for his enemies;
now he thanked God, now he sang.
Christ died and endured the wages of sin, and that without an
intercessor, without one between God and him. He grappled
immediately with the eternal justice of God, who inflicted on him
death, the wages of sin; there was no man to hold off the hand of
God; justice had his full blow at him, and made him a curse for sin.
A second thing that demonstrates that Christ died the cursed death
for sin, is the frame of spirit that he was in at the time he was to
be taken. Never was poor mortal so beset with the apprehensions of
approaching death as was this Lord Jesus Christ; amazement beyond
measure, sorrow that exceeded seized upon his soul: "My soul is
exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. And he began to be sore
amazed, and to be very heavy." Add to this that Jesus Christ was
better able to grapple with death, even alone, than the whole world
joined all together. 1. He was anointed with the Spirit without
measure. 2. He had all grace perfect in him. 3. Never had any so
much of his Father's love as he. 4. Never one so harmless and
without sin as he, and consequently never man had so good a
conscience as he. 5. Never one prepared such a stock of good works
to bear him company at the hour of death as he. 6. Never one had
greater assurance of being with the Father eternally in the heavens
than he. And yet, behold, when he comes to die, how weak is he, how
amazed at death, how heavy, how exceeding sorrowful! and, I say, no
cause assigned but the approach of death.
Alas, how often is it seen that we poor sinners can laugh at
destruction when it cometh; yea, and rejoice exceedingly when we
find the grave, looking upon death as a part of our portion, yea, as
that which will be a means of our present relief and help. 1 Cor.
3:22.
This Jesus could not do, considered as dying for our sin; but the
nearer death, the more heavy and oppressed with the thoughts of the
revenging hand of God; wherefore he falls into an agony and
sweats--not after the common rate, as we do when death is severing
body and soul: "His sweat was as it were great drops of blood
falling down to the ground."
What should be the reason but that death assaulted him with his
sting? If Jesus Christ had been to die for his virtues only,
doubtless he would have borne it lightly.
How have the martyrs despised death, having peace with God by Jesus
Christ, scorning the most cruel torments that men and hell could
devise and invent! but Jesus Christ could not do so, as he was a
sacrifice for sin; he died for us, he was made a curse for us. O, my
brethren, Christ died many deaths at once; he made his grave with
the wicked, and with the rich in his death.
It was because of sin, the sin that was put into the death he died,
and the curse of God that was due to sin, that that death was so
bitter to Jesus Christ; it is Christ that died. The apostle speaks
as if never any died but Christ; nor indeed did there, so wonderful
a death as he. Death, considered simply as a deprivation of natural
life, could not have these effects in a person personally more
righteous than an angel; yea, even carnal wicked men, not awakened
in their conscience, how securely they can die! It must therefore he
concluded that the sorrows and agony of Jesus Christ came from a
higher cause, even from the curse of God that was now approaching
for sin.
At last they condemn him to death, even to the death of the cross,
where they hang him up by wounds made through his hands and feet,
between the earth and the heavens; where he hanged for the space of
six hours. No God yet appears for his help. While he hangs there
some rail at him, others wag their heads, others tauntingly say, "He
saved others, himself he cannot save." Some divide his raiment,
casting lots for his raiment before his face; others mockingly hid
him come down from the cross; and when he desires succor, they give
him vinegar to drink. No God yet appears for his help.
Now the earth quakes, the rocks are rent, the sun becomes black, and
Jesus still cries out, that he was forsaken of God; and presently
boweth his head and dies.
And for all this there is no cause assigned from God, but sin. "He
was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our
iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his
stripes we are healed."