and death. Calm]y and deliberately He tells His disci- ples of His coining passion at Jerusalem. One after another He describes all the leading circumstances which would attend His death. Nothing is reserved. Nothing is kept back.
Let us mark this well. There was nothing involun- tary and unforeseen in our Lord's death. It was the result of his own free, determinate, and deliberate choice. From the beginning of His earthly ministry He saw the cross before Him, and went to it a willing sufferer. He knew that His death was the needful payment that must be made to reconcile God and man. That payment He had covenanted and engaged to make at the price of His own blood. And so when the appointed time came, like a faithful surety, He kept His word, and died for our sius on Calvary.
Let us ever bless God that the Gospel sets before us such a Saviour, so faithful to the terms of the covenant — so ready to suffer — so willing to be reckoned sin, and a curse in our stead. Let us not doubt that He who fulfilled his engagement to suffer, will also fulfil His engagement to save all who come to Him. Let us not only accept Him gladly as our Kedeemer and Advocate, but gladly give ourselves, and all we have, to His ser- vice. Surely, if Jesus cheerfully died for us, it is a small thing to require Christians to live for Him.