March 18 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Mark 15:16–23

Devotional

The Roman soldiers compel Simon to carry the cross of Jesus. Nobody wants to carry that cross. Simon did not want to carry the cross. Neither do we, yet we all deserve to carry that cross because of our shame and sin. But we do not want to admit this. At the heart of the matter, we all have to be compelled to acknowledge this. We have to be compelled, just as strongly as Simon was. Heaven has to step in with violence before we take upon ourselves the curse and the shame. There is no one who takes upon himself his sentence without that violence. We are all like Simon who wanted to have nothing to do with the cross. But do you believe that this cross is your cross, your curse, your shame, your judgment, and your verdict? It is urgent that you believe it before you die an eternal death because of your curse.

Blessed is he who has the cross of Christ placed upon his shoulders, and who is granted by this heavenly violence to accept his own verdict. He is humbled, accepts the guilt of his trespasses, and acknowledges the punishment he deserves. It is through the acknowledgement of this righteous judgment that people understand the hopelessness of their lives that exists without Christ’s atoning work. Do you have knowledge of these things? Do you know that as a sinner you deserve nothing but shame and a curse?

Because of God’s grace, man’s hopelessness is turned to hope! Simon has to carry the cross of Christ, but he is not nailed to the cross. At the place of the crucifixion he is permitted to go home again. We do not know if Simon understood the magnitude of the grace bestowed on him. But it is an everlasting miracle for those who have been taught to bow under their judgment. The curse is laid upon God’s people, not that they would perish under it, but in order that it would be removed again.

Here we see that the convicted sinner is placed under the cross, but is not nailed to the cross. And the more he is humbled under this judgment, the more room is made in his soul for Him, who was nailed to the cursed tree. For the miracle is that at the place of judgment there is a Substitute, who yields Himself to be nailed to that cross.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.