Women’s Bible Study For the Joy that was set before Him

John 18-21~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lesson Seven Jesus’ Six Hours on the Cross

John 19:25-30Study for meeting held Wednesday, December 17

In our last lesson we studied the first ‘word’ Jesus spoke from the cross. None of the gospels record all seven of the sayings of Jesus from the cross. We will go to the other gospels for the cross words not found in John, so that we see all that He spoke from the cross, remembering that in all that He suffered, and as He spoke His final words, He endured - for the Joy that was set before Him. We will be studying the words of our Savior as He gave His life for us. May our study never be only for head knowledge, but may it be a meditation of awe and thankfulness for God’s grace and mercy to us through His only begotten Son.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Day One –

Himself He cannot save - Mark 15:31 Last time we saw how the passersby mocked and railed upon Jesus. The gospels also tell us of those who knew Him, and had tried Him, who take pleasure in ridiculing Him. Today we look at more mockery Jesus had to endure; and a word of prophecy concerning Him.Prayer: May we begin our lesson in prayer, asking our Heavenly Father to guide our hearts as we look at the suffering our Savior had to endure in His hours on the cross. Read: Matthew 27:41-44 Mark 15:31-32 Luke 23:35-37 Study: 1. The gospels tell us of four different groups who stood by the cross and mocked Jesus:

a. Matthew 27:41b. Matthew 27:44c. Luke 23:35d. Luke 23:36

2. In what way did the chief priests mock Jesus? Can you think of what events of His life they possibly used to mock Him?

3. What did they say He must do if they were to believe He was the Son of God? Matt. 27:42

4. Who did they say should deliver Him if He really was the Son of God? Matt. 27:43

5. What do we learn from Psalm 22:7-8 about this time of mockery of Jesus?

Notes: “The spirit of anti-Christ, that denies that Jesus is the Christ, was very active during the Saviour’s sojourn on earth. Vehement in its furious hatred that same spirit became, when the ‘hour’ was finally come. For it was, indeed, the same spirit of anti-Christ, denying that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, that motivated the enemies in plotting Jesus’ death… Usually there is some sympathy for the criminal when he is finally led to the place of execution. But for Jesus of Nazareth there is nothing but bitter hatred to the very last. The cruel hatred and malevolence of the enemy is insatiable. Notes cont.

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Day One continued “As always, so on Calvary, there is logical argumentation in the challenge of the anti-Christian spirit. The argument plainly runs as follows: (1) A crucified Jesus that is incapable of delivering Himself is evidently not the Christ. (2) Jesus is crucified and He cannot save Himself. (3) Hence, Jesus cannot be the Christ… The spirit of anti-Christ on Calvary takes the cross as proof that Jesus is not the Christ, the Son of the living God! Only the heart-changing grace of God can make the sinner see the folly of his denial of the truth that Jesus, the crucified One, is the Christ, the Son of God. When the God of our salvation regenerates our hearts, and calls us by His Spirit through the Word of the gospel, we are radically turned about with respect to our relation to the living God and we see all things, God, the Christ, His cross, ourselves, in a new and radically different light… Then we behold ourselves in our sin, and repent in dust and ashes, in true sorrow after God, and long for forgiveness and righteousness… No, He did not come down! There was, in this anti-Christian challenge that He come down from the cross, no doubt, also a final attempt of the devil to persuade Him to leave the way of obedience. But He loved us even unto the end!” Rev. H Hoeksema in When I Survey

Meditate: May we take these words from John 1:11-12 with us today, remembering God’s mercy in electing us to salvation.

He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

Prayer: May we close in prayer, asking God to bless this study of His Word to our hearts and to enable us to live lives of thankfulness for His grace in electing us before the foundation of the world.

Salvation to the Lord belongs, in Him His saints are blest; O let Thy blessing evermore upon Thy people rest. Psalter #5 st.5

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Day Two –

The malefactor rebuked - Luke 23: 40 We have seen how Jesus’ cross was the center of the three crosses that day. He was crucified with one thief on His left and another thief on His right; both malefactors, guilty, and worthy of death. Today we look at how the thieves differed and what caused that difference.Prayer: May we begin in prayer, asking God to bless us as we look at His Word here, that we may see His gracious work and undeserved favor.

Read: Luke 23:39-41 Ephesians 1:1-7 Study: 1. What are we told in Luke 23:39 of how one of the thieves mocked Jesus?

2. How did the other thief rebuke him?What did he mean by ‘fear God’?

Do you think he himself did fear God at that time? If so, how did that come about?

What did he mean that they were in ‘the same condemnation’?

3. What did he admit about himself and the other thief? Is there a confession of sin there?

4. What did he say about Jesus?

5. Explain, using scripture, what made this difference in the two thieves - both brought to the crosses within the last three hours or less as malefactors, yet now with such a different understanding of Jesus.

Day Two cont.2

Day Two continued Notes: A note first about the difference of Mark 15:32 and Matthew 27:44, with Luke 23:39. Don Doezema wrote in Upon This Rock: “We ought to mention, perhaps, that there is a difference of opinion as to whether only one, or both, of the malefactors reviled Him at the beginning… The truth is that we cannot tell. It may be that at first both of the thieves joined in the general mockery of Jesus - and then one was brought to repentance. Or it may be that the plural form in Matthew and Mark should be understood to designate “the class in general” (Calvin), which need not include all those in it. The latter seems to us to be the more likely because of the improbability that the penitent thief could have at first mocked and then a short time later expressed “astonishment that (the other) should be capable of such conduct” (Jamieson). Both explanations are reasonable, however; and, no matter which happens to be the case, the fact is that what we see taking place on two of the crosses at Calvary is the hardening of one criminal and the conversion of the other.” Doezema “By nature, and apart from the operation of God’s sovereign grace, this second malefactor is just like the first. He, too, would have despised the crucified Christ, and railed on Him. But notice now the effect of the Father’s answer to Christ’s prayer (Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.) upon and in this man… Principally, these words contain all the real elements of a true conversion, and the fruit of God’s saving grace and of His efficacious calling. It is true, this penitent thief did not have the light that we have. We must be careful lest we ascribe a meaning to his words they could not possible have had for his own consciousness. Yet, there is nothing wanting in this confession and prayer, nothing that is necessary for a sinner to come to Christ and be saved.

First of all there is a confession of sin. When God responds to the prayer of our Savior in behalf of sinners that are dead through trespasses and sins and performs the wonder of His grace in their hearts, the very first manifestation of this marvelous work of God is conviction of sin, the unconditional acknowledgment on the part of the sinner that he is worthy of God’s righteous condemnation. God’s grace causes us to see our sin as never before in the light of God’s righteousness, and to acknowledge the justice of our eternal condemnation… We may find this element in the words of the penitent thief: “Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds.”

Secondly, the words of the repenting malefactor are the expression of a new, marvelous knowledge of Christ. This, too, belongs to true conversion. When God, by the power of His grace, hears the intercession of His Son, our merciful High Priest, He works in the heart of the sinner a new, spiritual knowledge of Christ, as the revelation of the God of our salvation. In order to obtain this blessing of grace he must see and acknowledge his sin and the righteousness of God. But he must also behold the Christ in all the preciousness of His perfect atonement and satisfaction for sin, of His complete and finished redemption. This knowledge, too, God works in him by the power of His wondrous grace.” Rev. H Hoeksema in When I Survey Meditate: May we take I Peter 2:9 with us today and rejoice in God’s eternal decree of election in Christ.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Prayer: May we ask God’s blessing on us through today’s study, that we may remember always that it is by His grace that we know our sins, and seek salvation alone in Him.

How great my trespasses appear, but Thou from guilt my soul wilt clear, and my transgressions hide.How blest Thy chosen, who by grace are brought within Thy dwelling place that they may there abide.

Psalter #168 st. 2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Day Three – “Today” - A plea and a promise - Luke 23:42-43

Brought to the cross a thief; now, by God’s grace, a redeemed saint. Most commentators record this as Jesus’ second word from the cross - once again spoken to or for others. Day Three cont.Day Three continued Today we look at God’s work, and Jesus’ merciful promise.

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Prayer: May we begin our study today, asking God to bless us with an even greater understanding of His undeserved, redeeming grace.

Read: Luke 23:42-43 John 3:1-18

Study: 1. Yesterday we saw the beginning of God’s grace worked in the heart of the thief when he said: “Dost not thou fear God?” What work of God was wrought in him, for him to be able to fear God and understand Jesus’ innocence - for him to ‘see’ the kingdom of God?

2. What is striking about the one request he asked Jesus? What did he call Jesus?

How does his request show the confidence he had in Jesus? What did his request show about Jesus as king?

3. What was Jesus’ wonderful answer of promise?When did Jesus promise the thief would receive the promise?What did Jesus mean that the thief would be with Him?What does scripture teach about ‘paradise’? Revelation 2:7

4. Jesus was buried that day - for three days. What then His promise mean?

Notes: “The prayer of Christ was heard in the conversion of the penitent thief. He knows and confesses that Christ is the Sinless One… Marvelous is the knowledge of Christ he reveals in his prayer, he believes that Jesus is the Christ! Somehow, he knows that the cross is not the end of this Man of Sorrows, but that, through suffering and death, He will enter into the glory of His kingdom. God will justify Him and give Him glory. He will raise Him from the dead! That is evident from the prayer: “Lord, remember me, when thou comest into thy kingdom.” Note, too, that this penitent thief casts himself unconditionally upon the mercy of Christ. He prays. He wants to be remembered by this Christ, when He shall have come into His kingdom. But how does he desire that this Christ shall remember him in the kingdom of heaven? What is there about him that is worthy to be remembered, or on the ground of which he may hope to have a place in that kingdom of glory? Is he not a criminal? Is not his condemnation just? Or does he, perhaps, have a glimmer of hope that this last defense of Christ will earn him a place in glory? By no means! When God hears the intercessory prayer of Christ in behalf of sinners, He works in them a profound need of forgiveness, a true knowledge of the righteousness of Christ, and the grace of unconditional surrender to Him. This is the attitude of the thief. Had he not heard Christ’s prayer in behalf of sinners? And when he prays that the Lord may remember him when He shall have come into His kingdom, does he not mean: “Lord, before the face of Thy Father, in the kingdom of glory, please, utter Thy intercessory prayer in my behalf, in order that I may have the forgiveness of sins”? The Savior recognizes the Father’s answer to His prayer. For He assures the penitent thief: “Today thou shalt be with Me in paradise.” All that the Father giveth Him shall surely come to Him, even though it must be in the very hour of their death; and they that come to Him, He will in no wise cast out.” Rev. H Hoeksema in When I SurveyMeditate: May we take John 17:9-10 with us today, and take comfort in the truth that our Savior prays for us. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast give me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. Day Three cont.Day Three continued

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Prayer: As we close today’s study may we ask God’s blessing on us that we may live in the knowledge that we belong to God through our Savior, through His sacrifice.

From Him His saints’ redemption came; His covenant sure no change can know; Let all revere His holy Name in heaven above and earth below. Psalter #304 st. 6

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Day Four –

Woman, Behold thy Son - John 19:27 “She is the dying Man’s mother. The One Who agonizes there on the Cross is her child. His disciples may desert Him, His friends may forsake Him, His nation may despise Him, but His mother stands there at the foot of His cross.” A.W. Pink The ‘third’ word spoken from the cross before the noontime darkness, is, once again, a word to others. Today we will look at Jesus’ care for His earthly mother, and what He had to teach her by those words.

Prayer: May we begin by asking God to lead us in our study, that we may understand the change in the relationship between the earthly and the spiritual.

Read: John 19:25-27 Luke 2:29-35 John 2:1-11

Study: 1. In the rest of our study in John we will often read of the women who loved Jesus, and their care for Him.

What women are listed here as those who came to the cross to see Jesus?

2. What did Jesus call His mother in our text?

3. What was the only other time we read of, where He addressed His mother in that way?

4. Why would He address her that way?

5. Who does this scripture tell us was standing by Jesus’ mother?

6. What were Jesus’ words to His mother?

7. What were Jesus’ words to the disciple whom He loved?

8. What does scripture tell us took place ‘from that hour’?

Notes: “In the last and awful hours of His human life, amid the infinite sufferings of the Cross, the Lord Jesus thought of her who loved Him and whom He loved; thought of her present necessity and provided for her future need by committing her to the care of that disciple who most deeply understood His love. His thought for Mary at that time and the honor He gave her was one of the manifestations of His victory over pain. Perhaps a word is called for in connection with our Lord’s form of address - “Woman.” So far as the record of the four Gospels go, never once did He call her “Mother.” Twice over in the Gospel records do we find our Lord addressing Mary as “Woman,” and it is most noteworthy that both of these are found in John’s Gospel, which, as is well known, set forth our Saviour’s Deity. John’s Gospel presents Christ as the Son of God, and as Son of God, He is above all human relationships, and hence the perfect consonance (agreement) of presenting the Lord Jesus here addressing Mary as “Woman”. Notes, cont. Day Four continued “The Lord Jesus was dying as the Saviour for sinners. He was engaged in the most

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momentous and the most stupendous undertaking that this earth ever has or ever will witness… Nevertheless, He fails not to make provision for her who, according to the flesh, was His mother… This care for His mother in His dying hour was characteristic of all His conduct. So it was at the cross. He was performing the mightiest work of all history…yet He forgets not to make provision for His mother.” A.W. Pink in The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross

“Significant was this act of separation for Jesus! Voluntarily He severs earthly ties in the determination to carry out His Father’s work alone! This also explains why He did it, that is, why He cut these earthly bonds. It was the hour of darkness! When all the vials of God’s holy wrath would be poured out upon Him, when the Sin-bearer and Sacrifice of atonement which He was, must tread the wine press of the wrath of God alone. No one may succor Him in that hour!.. Voluntarily He severed His earthly ties, implying that He willingly assumed the suffering He surely felt as His mother was cut from Him, in order that He might be a perfect Mediator! Surely also this suffering was added to that He already bore as the Saviour on the cross.” Rev. M. Schipper in the SB article Voluntary Severing of Earthly Ties M editate : May we take Psalm 40:5 with us today remembering the greatness of God’s mercy in Christ.

Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee:

if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

Prayer: May we close our study in thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father for His mercy to us, and ask Him to work in us the desire to abide in Christ.

O Lord my God, how manifold Thy wondrous works which I behold,And all Thy loving, gracious thought Thou hast bestowed on man;

To count Thy mercies I have sought, but boundless is their span. Psalter #111 st. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Day Five – Thick Darkness - Luke 23:44

“During the time from 9:00 till noon, the Jews had imagined themselves to be masters of the situation. Jesus was at last, so they thought, in their power, and they took full advantage of the situation by venting on Him all of their vile hatred. And then came the darkness.” Don Doezema in Upon This Rock Today we begin to look at the little that is revealed to us of Jesus’ deep spiritual suffering - the suffering of the torments of hell for each of His elect.

Prayer: As we begin to look at God’s Word in this passage, may we ask Him to reveal to us the meaning of the miraculous darkness He sent.

Read: Matthew 27:45 Mark 15:33 Luke 23:44-45a Amos 5:20

Study: 1. What time do we believe the ‘sixth hour’ was?

2. Where does scripture tell us the darkness was?

3. What is the only description of this darkness we have in these passages?

4. Consider all the things scripture does not tell us of the time during those three hours.Were the people afraid? Did the people remain in their places? Was it silent?

Questions cont.Day Five continued

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5. Why do you think God’s Word is silent about what took place during the darkness?

6. What is darkness sometimes a sign of in scripture?

Notes: “During that first three hours, (9:00 to 12:00) the Lord Himself is not exclusively occupied with, engulfed in, His own suffering. He pays attention to others, to His own. But at noon, when the darkness descends upon Calvary, all this changes. The enemies realize that, by this darkness, God has come upon the scene, and the judgment of the cross is taken out of their hands. They are filled with terror, no doubt. They blaspheme no more. In silence they wonder what will be the end of this. And the Lord, too, is silent. He is completely occupied with His own suffering. He speaks not again until the ninth hour, when the darkness is dispelled, and the light of the sun once more floods Calvary with it blessed joy. For we must understand that this darkness that enveloped Calvary at high noon was directly and plainly a special Word of God.

When the darkness descended the sun could, perhaps still be seen, for a moment, appearing through the gloom like a pale disc; then also that faded away, and it was completely dark on Calvary, and night over the whole land of Canaan. The darkness reminded of the judgment of God which for three days spread its terror over the land of Egypt, when God was delivering His people from the house of bondage with a mighty arm. What is the meaning? It signified that God Himself had come down upon the land to judge His people, that He was present there on Calvary, and in the whole land, in His fierce anger, to visit our iniquities upon our heads, to execute judgment in righteousness, to destroy all the workers of iniquity. The great day of the Lord has come!

That is the significance of the darkness on Calvary, and over the whole land of Canaan, from noon until three o’clock on the day of the crucifixion of our Lord. God is come for judgment upon His people. The period of darkness is very really the Day of the Lord. From the sixth to the ninth hour… the Judge of heaven and earth was very really visiting our sins upon us, executing righteous judgment, emptying all the vials of His terrible anger against sin over our heads… Righteous judgment is executed upon us. But how is this possible? How can we stand in that judgment? If God is come to judge His church, to visit our sins upon our heads, to pour out all the vials of His wrath upon us, how can we stand?… For three long hours God is pouring out His wrath over us. The darkness passes. And we are not consumed. How do we account for this astonishing mystery?… For this purpose He sent His only begotten Son into the world in the fullness of time… that is, exactly at the time when God poured out the vials of His wrath, He reached it: “In due time Christ died for the ungodly.” And so we behold the amazing spectacle, the paradox of paradoxes, that God from heaven is pouring out His wrath upon His people, and God in the flesh, suspended on the accursed tree of Calvary, receives all the wrath of God in our stead and on our behalf. God is pouring out His fierce wrath upon God in the flesh! God is with us in the darkness, Immanuel is descending into lowest hell for us! It is the mercy of the Lord that we are not consumed in that hour of darkness. Blessed hour of redemption. Darkness covered the land until the ninth hour, then the light returns, the light of God’s everlasting love and favor.” Rev. H. Hoeksema in When I Survey

Meditate: May we take Psalm 88:6-7 with us today, as we meditate on the way God brought Jesus in the darkness. Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted with all thy waves.Prayer: May we give thanks to our Heavenly Father for the darkness we studied today, knowing that it was during that darkness that our redemption was purchased.

Thou hast brought me down to darkness, ‘neath Thy wrath I am oppressed;All the billows of affliction overwhelm my soul distressed,

Thou hast made my friends despise me, and companionless I go, Bound, and helpless in my bondage, pining in my bitter woe. Psalter # 240 st.2

Day Six – My God, My God, Why - Matthew 27:46

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This is our salvation! Uttered at the end of the three hours of darkness; the very depth of His suffering. Today we will look at Jesus’ cry, and the way of our salvation which we cannot even begin to fathom.

Prayer: May we begin our look into this Word in prayer to our Heavenly Father, that He will open up to our hearts the great wonder that took place here.

Read: Matthew 27:46-47 Mark 15:34-35

Study: This text is so deep the more we look into it, the more we realize we cannot really know, or understand. But God inspired men to record it that we may have before us the wonder of what Jesus did for us. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

1. How had Jesus always spoken of (and to) God during His ministry on earth? John 10:14-18 John 14:6-7 John 17:1-5 Mark 14:36

2. Define ‘forsaken’?

3. Try to put it into your own words what it means that Jesus was forsaken by God?

4. Did Jesus know what was ahead for Him when He came to the cross? John 12:23-32

5. Why did Jesus cry out: “Why?” Jesus is divine. He knew before creation that He was the Lamb slain. He knew the reason, why would He cry out: “Why?”

6. If it was for our sins that He went to the cross, why does He say “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? II Cor. 5:21

Notes: “God came for judgment upon His people. But, wonder of wonders, we were not consumed in His anger. For all the vials of His wrath were poured out on Him who hung there on that central cross at Calvary. The Son of God incarnate had taken upon Himself all our in iniquities; and on the cross He bore the whole burden of God’s wrath that we deserved because of them. All of the terrors of hell that all of the people of God would otherwise have had to endure to all eternity were compressed as it were into the agonies endured by our Savior during those three hours of darkness. He bore it all in order that we might never have to bear it… “Eli, Eli…,” Jesus cried. In the terrible forsakenness of those three hours, “Father: does not come from the lips of our Lord. As Jamieson writes, “The light of a Father’s countenance was then mysteriously eclipsed.” But note that, in this blackest gloom, He still cries out to His God. Even in the inexpressible anguish of utter desolation He remained to the end the obedient servant of Jehovah.

“Why?” But did He not know? Does He now forget that He came into this world precisely in order that He might experience this forsakenness, so that His people might never be forsaken? Surely Jesus did know the reason. As, again, Jamieson puts it, “the ‘why’ must not be pressed so far as to exclude this.” Perhaps it is best to view the “lama?” (Why?), as a cry of lamentation pressed from the soul of One who, conscious of His own perfect obedience, experiences nevertheless all the horrors of hell. How unspeakably terrible that must have been we can tell only from Jesus’ response to it (by way of anticipation in the garden, and the actual experience of it on the cross). Notes cont.Day Six continued “We can say that the God-forsakenness ought not to be understood in the sense of an absolute abandonment. It could not, for the omnipresence of God remains a fact also at Calvary. God was

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not absent from the place of Jesus’ crucifixion. That Christ was “forsaken means rather, for one thing, that He lost the consciousness of God’s favor. But, more than that, it means that Christ was made to taste the wrath of God. Negatively, God withdraws His friendship; positively, He “concentrates the awful presence of His offended holiness, of His avenging justice, righteousness, and truth upon that cross… He (Jesus) is forsaken, plunged into the horror of him that is cast away in God’s holy and righteous anger” (Rev. Hoeksema).

It was truly out of the abyss of hell, therefore, that that anguished cry was heard from the lips of the Savior. (It was a figurative descent,… but no less terrible for all that)… He had as it were drunk the last dregs of that bitter cup of which He had spoken in His prayer in the garden.

And at that very moment the light of the sun must have begun to break through the darkness… there was no longer any reason for the darkness to hide the light of the sun, for the judgment was past. The obedient servant of Jehovah had borne the wrath of God to the very end.” Don Doezema in Upon This Rock Meditate: May we meditate today on Psalm 22:1, Christ’s Words through David.

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Prayer: May we close in humble thanksgiving for God’s work of placing all the judgment we deserve on His only Begotten Son.

My God, My God, I cry to Thee; O why hast Thou forsaken Me? Afar from Me, Thou dost not heed, though day and night for help I plead. Psalter #47 st.1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Day Seven -

I Thirst - John 19:28 Jesus hung on the cross from 9:00 until noon hearing the mockery of the people, and speaking to the needs of others. From noon until three, in the darkness, He experienced all of the wrath of God for all of the elect, ending with the cry of utter desolation. Then at 3:00, with His redeeming work accomplished, He cried out His own need. Today we look at Jesus’ thirst, His fifth Word from the cross.Prayer: As we begin our study may we ask God to lead us to see the meaning of Jesus’ thirst.

Read: John 19:28-30

Study: Read again John 19:281. What specifically does ‘after this’ refer to?

2. What does ‘accomplished’ mean? To have something accomplished means that it had been planned. When was this deed first planned? What does it mean that ‘all things’ were accomplished?

3. Explain what it meant for Jesus that all things were accomplished. Then consider what it means for you.

4. What is thirst? Was this strictly a physical thirst? When was the last recorded time Jesus had something to drink, and what all had He gone through since that time?

Questions cont.Day Seven continued5. According to the words of our text, why did Jesus say ‘I thirst’?

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6. What Old Testament scripture was Jesus fulfilling when He spoke these words?

Notes: “Thirst,” writes Lenske, “was one of the excruciating agonies of the crucified. Jesus must have thirsted long before Golgotha was reached and this cry of His body for moisture to slake its burning must have become terribly intensified after He hung upon the cross.” Six hours earlier Jesus had been offered wine to drink but “he received it not” (Mark 15:23). The reason for His refusal, however, was hardly that He had no thirst. Fact is, He put it from Him only after He had tasted it (Matt. 27:34) and found that it had been mingled with myrrh for the benefit of those who were to be nailed to the cross. Jesus would not enter His suffering with any of His senses dulled by a narcotic. That was 9:00 in the morning. Now, at 3:00 in the afternoon, things are different. The cup of God’s wrath has been emptied of its last drop. The battle is over. Jesus knew that “all things were now accomplished” (John 19:28). The reference, surely, is to the bearing of God’s wrath. All that the Scriptures had prophesied of Christ had not yet been fulfilled. He must still die and be buried and rise again the third day. But the penalty for sin had been paid, now that the three hours of darkness had ended. And that was the “end,” or purpose, of His suffering. That was the reason for which He had come into the world. And now that that was at last accomplished, He could, as Edersheim so aptly put it, “Yield Himself to the mere physical wants of His Body.” Don Doezema in Upon This Rock

M editate : May we take Psalm 106:1-2 with us throughout our day, giving thanks for God’s mercy in Christ.Praise ye the LORD, O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever,

Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? Who can shew forth all his praise?Prayer: May we finish our study in thanksgiving to God for the accomplished work of Christ for us.

Praise ye the Lord, for He is good; give thanks and bless His Name;His loving-kindness changes not, from age to age the same.

What tongue can tell His mighty deeds, His wondrous works and ways? O who can show His glory forth, or utter all His praise? Psalter #290 sts. 1&2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Day Eight - They gave Him to drink - John 19:29

With the light coming back, the people hear Jesus cry out His thirst. Three of the four gospels tell us of the reaction of the soldiers and the people.

Today we take a look at what takes place in reaction to Jesus’ cry of thirst.Prayer: May we ask God to bless us to see once again in our study, the oneness of His Word.

Read: Matthew 27:48-49 Mark 15:36 John 19:29 Psalm 69:16-21 Malachi 4:5 Matthew 11:1-14 Matthew 17:9-13 Study:1. The last two cross words we looked at: Eli, Eli lama sabachgthani? and: I thirst, came quickly one after the other - what did the soldiers do when they heard Jesus?

2. What did the people think Jesus meant by Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani?

3. What connection did Elijah have with the promised Messiah in the prophesy the Jews knew?Malachi 4:5 Questions cont.

Day Eight continued4. What could the people have meant then by: Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

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5. Explain how the soldiers gave Jesus something to quench His thirst.

Notes: “Apparently there was an immediate attempt to grant that request (of Jesus’ cry: “I thirst”), for we read in Matthew 27:48 that straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put the sponge on a stalk of hyssop (the reference here is probably to a species of this plant that has stalks reaching at least six feet in height), and raised it to Jesus’ parched lips, in order that He might suck from it some of the wine… Others meanwhile were yet pondering the words of that cry in the darkness: “Eli, Eli, lama, sabachthani?” Their response was, “This man calleth for Elias” (Matt. 27:47); and, in connection it seems with the offering of the wine, they say, “Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him” This has been variously interpreted by Bible scholars. Some see it as a misunderstanding of Jesus’ “Eli, Eli.” Others doubt that “Eli” could possibly have been mistaken for “Elijah,” and suggest rather a deliberate perversion of Jesus’ words in order to make a mockery of His cry. In either case the reference to Elias would come out of the Jewish notion that “Elijah would not only precede the Messiah and introduce him to the Jews but would also live at the side of the Messiah and attest him as the Messiah” (Lenski). Those who suggested that Jesus was calling for Elijah might have meant to say then that, at this late hour, this fellow is “frantically calling for Elijah to rescue him and to proclaim and to confirm him as the Messiah” (Lenski). It seems to us that it is unlikely that the mockery of the first three hours could have revived within minutes after the awe-inspiring, inexplicable darkness had lifted. It seems more probable that, at least for a time, “the morale of hell was broken” (Rev. Hoeksema) and that the mention of a possible appearance of Elijah sprang from confusion and fear rather than from a desire to make a joke of Jesus’ words. The silence of the darkness, broken as it was by Jesus’ cry to God, must have been an unnerving experience, which filled His enemies with fear that Elijah just might appear yet after all, and that the terrible day of judgment, symbolized by the darkness, might begin right here on Golgotha.” Don Doezema in Upon This Rock

Meditate: May we take Psalm 69:21 with us today with thankfulness for fulfilled prophesy. They gave me also gall for my meat;

And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Prayer: May we humbly draw near to our Heavenly Father in thanks for again showing us His perfect plan for our salvation.

They gave me bitter gall for food, and taunting words they spake; They gave me vinegar to drink, my burning thirst to slake. Psalter #185 st. 7

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Day Nine -

It is Finished - John 19:30a “‘It is finished!’ This is one of the briefest of the seven cross utterances. Like the immediately preceding one it consists of only one word in the original. Yet, it is one of the most momentous and significant declarations ever made.” Rev. H. Hoeksema Today we look at the meaning of the sixth word Jesus spoke from the cross: It is finished. Prayer: May we begin our day’s study by asking God to bless us that we may receive a greater understanding of Jesus’ sacrifice.

Read: John 19:30a Genesis 3:13-15 II Cor. 5:18-19 Day Nine cont.Day Nine continuedStudy: 1. Jesus drank from the liquid on the sponge the soldiers offered Him and then said “It is finished.” What was it that was finished?

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Was Jesus speaking of His life? 2. What work had Jesus come to do?

3. How was that work finished?

What was needed for it to be finished?

Notes: “In this sixth cross utterance the Saviour does not mean to say that the end is fast approaching, and that He feels Himself sinking away into the mysterious depths of death. Such and interpretation would hardly be in harmony with the facts of Jesus’ death. For these facts plainly witness that Jesus was never overcome by death, that death had no power at all arbitrarily to sever the thread of His earthly life that, on the contrary, the Saviour laid down His own life, as He had said, in His own time, and that death could come in only at His own beck and call. This is evident from the fact that the Lord died much sooner than was and could have been expected. Death by crucifixion was a very slow process of dying. It could last from one even to three whole days. But Jesus died within six hours. Death did not overpower Him. By the strength of His divine nature, the Son of God sustained His human nature in all its suffering until the work was finished and the battle was won: then He gave up the ghost. The outcry “It is finished” cannot mean “I feel the end approaching.” For no one took His life from Him. He had power to lay it down of Himself, and He had power to take it again.

What is implied in this announcement? Just what was finished? In general we may answer: all the work which the Father gave Him to do had been accomplished.

That apparently helpless Sufferer, Who appears so utterly passive, is engaged in a fierce battle. That apparently impotent victim of His enemies, has the devil by his throat, is taking the sting out of death, is choking the last accusing breath of condemnation out of sin. He is fighting the battle for the righteousness of God into the glory of His everlasting kingdom at the head of all whom the Father Has given Him! That is why He is more than victor, for even His enemies unwittingly, but attempting to destroy Him, are instrumental in leading Him on to victory. And that is why the moment of His apparent utter defeat is the moment of His final victory, and He is able to announce to all the world: “It is finished!” The battle is fought! The foe is vanquished! Sin is blotted out! Eternal righteousness is obtained for all Mine. The devil is forever dethroned! Death is swallowed up in victory! The way through deepest death and hell is wide open and leads into the heavenly tabernacle of God with men! “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.” Rev. 11:15. It is finished!” Rev. H. Hoeksema in When I SurveyMeditate: “Sin is blotted out!” May we meditate today on Psalm 32:1, and rejoice in Jesus’ declaration that our sins are paid for. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

Prayer: May we close our study today giving thanks to God for the great gift of salvation through the sacrifice of our Savior.

How blest is he whose trespass hath freely been forgiven, whose sin is wholly covered before the sight of heaven.

Blest he to whom Jehovah imputeth not his sin, who hath a guileless spirit, whose heart is true within. Psalter #83 st. 1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Day Ten –

Father - into Thy hands - Luke 23:46 “There was a note of triumph in the cry, “It is finished!” that could not have been missed. It was plainly the cry of a victor, not of one who had been vanquished. And the last word, “Father, into thy hands I

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commend my Spirit” put it beyond doubt that Christ died in the blessed consciousness of God’s favor.” Don Doezema

Today we look at the final word recorded in scripture that Jesus spoke from the cross. Prayer: May we begin our lesson today in prayer, asking God to open up to us the meaning of Jesus’ final words. Read: Matthew 27:50 Mark 15:37 Luke 23:46 John 19:30b

John 10:18 Psalm 31:1-5Study: 1. What truths do Matthew, Mark and John tell us about the time of Jesus’ death?

2. What does it mean that Jesus gave, or yielded up the ghost?

3. Luke 23:46 teaches us more about that moment. What was it that He cried at the time of his death?

4. What does He once again call God? 5. What is meant by His spirit?

6. What does it mean that He commended His Spirit? And into what did His commend it? 7. Think for a bit what it means that Jesus the Son of God gave His spirit into His Father’s hands.

8. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we too are in the hands of our Heavenly Father. Do you have a favorite text about being in the hands of your Father in heaven, or under the shadow of His wings, or in His tender care?

Notes: “Christ did not simply succumb to death when He was no longer physically able to hold onto life. He was fully conscious at the moment of His final, loud cry, and obviously had control over the moment of His death. When He knew that His work was finished so that He need not suffer another minute on the cross, He as it were ordered death to take Him. “No man taketh it from me,” Jesus had said of His life, “but I lay it down of myself” (John 10:18). It seems, therefore, that there is both a voluntary and an involuntary aspect to Jesus’ death. “He lays down His life willingly, even at the moment when God takes it away” (Rev, Hoeksema)… Rev. Vos writes concerning the seventh cross word: “this is a quotation from Psalm 31. And yet it is not a quotation, for they are the words of His own speech as He spoke them through the mouth of the prophet (psalmist) many ages before. He simply enters His own words and deepens them to the utmost and fullest significance.” The words “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” are more than mere fulfillment of prophecy, In that cry, suggests Rev. Vos, one can hear “an exuberant gladness.” True it is that His body will now hang lifeless on the cross, till presently it is taken down and laid in the grave. And true it is that that death and burial belong to His humiliation. But remember that Jesus, at the moment of His death, has committed His spirit into the hands of His Father. As will be true with us, so also was it true of Christ that at the moment of death there was a separation of the spirit from the body. Notes cont.Day Ten continued “The body went to the grave, the spirit into the Father’s hands. And what does that mean? Jesus told the penitent thief that they would this day be together in Paradise, that is, heaven, where God dwells with His angels and with the saints who have gone before. Jesus therefore expected that when He died He would pass at once into a conscious state of glory. He must wait till the third day for the reunion of His spirit with His body - His glorified body - but what He experienced at death was glory nevertheless.”

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“This last cry of Jesus signifies that He is going Home! Home to God, His Father in heaven. The moment that Jesus bowed the head and died, He arrived in the arms of God and at once He was in the midst of great rejoicings and jubilant singing.” (Rev. Vos) Don Doezema in Upon This Rock

Meditate: May we take Hebrews 12:1b-2 with us today, and meditate on this blessed truth to experience the joy promised to us as redeemed children of God.

Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Prayer: May we close today’s study by thanking God for His comforting mercies, and ask Him to keep us in His care so that we never forget what He has done for us.

When I in righteousness at last Thy glorious face shall see,When all the weary night is past, and I awake with Thee

to view the glories that abide, then, then I shall be satisfied. Psalter #32 st.4

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Day Eleven –

The signs accompanying the death of Christ - Mark 15:38 The very moment Jesus commended His spirit into the hands of His Father, God ordained amazing signs to show the significance of Jesus’ death. Mr. Doezema called it ‘The speech of God’. Today we look at some of those signs. Prayer: May we begin today’s lesson by asking God to open up these signs to us, that we may understand the spiritual significance of them.

Read: Matthew 27:51-53 Mark 15:38 Luke 23:45

Study: 1. What four signs written of in Matthew 27:51-52

a.b.c.d.

2. What do you think the meaning of the earthquake and the rending of the rocks could be?

3. What would be the significance of the graves being opened?

4. The rending of the veil is perhaps the most significant sign. What do we read about that veil in:Exodus 26:31-34Exodus 35:12Heb.10:14-23 Questions cont.

Day Eleven continued5. The veil of the temple was huge. How was it torn according to Matthew 27:51?

How was that possible?

What did the rending of the veil between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies mean for the Jews? 14

What does it mean for us?

Notes: “There was, first of all, the rending of the veil of the temple. This was the thick, gorgeously-wrought veil that hung between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. According to Edersheim it was “40 cubits (60 feet) long, and 20 (30 feet) wide, of the thickness of the palm of the hand, and wrought in 72 squares, which were joined together.” Edersheim goes on to say that “these veils were so heavy, that, in the exaggerated language of the time, it needed 300 priests to manipulate each.” At the moment of Jesus’ death this great veil was “rent in twain from the top to the bottom” and the Holy of Holies was exposed to view… The Holy of Holies was the place where God dwelt… In the dispensation of type and shadow, entrance into the Most Holy Place was thus gained in a way that signified that for sinners, access to a holy God is only through atoning blood. It was understood, of course, that it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins (Heb. 10:4). The high priest’s entering the Most Holy Place was but a prefiguration, or picture, of what would someday be accomplished by the Great High Priest… The priests and the sacrifices were all figures of better things that were to come. They were to find their fulfillment in Christ, who, again according to the writer to the Hebrews, is “an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us (Heb. 9:11-12). Occurring simultaneously with the rending of the veil, apparently, was the quaking of the earth and the rending of the rocks, both of which likely were local phenomena… the trembling of the earth speaks of God’s greatness and power and of the victory of His cause… The idea here is that the curse of God which came as a result of man’s rebellion, was made to fall upon the entire creation over which man had been made head. The purpose of God, however, is that that cursed creation be, not in the end annihilated, but rather raised to an exalted level, the new heavens and the new earth… The quaking of the earth and the rending of the rocks were therefore evidence that the death of Christ was of significance for the entire universe… Along with the earthquake (if not as a direct result of it) was the sign of the opening of the graves. This also was surely a local thing. It was Sunday morning, according to Matthew 28:53, that the risen Lord awakened those sleeping saints. Their graves, however, had been opened at 3:00 on Friday afternoon,. The latter, we believe, occurred in order that it might be a sign. It signified that by His death Jesus had already conquered death…the victory over sin and death was already won when our Lord announced that His work was finished and He gave up His spirit into the hands of His Father.” Don Doezema in Upon This Rock

Meditate: May we meditate on Hebrews 10:19-22a throughout the day today, remembering it is because of His sacrifice that we may boldly draw near to God. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. By a new and living way,

which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.

Prayer: May we close our study today, humbly seeking God’s blessing on what we have studied, and that He grant us the assurance that He hears us because of Jesus.

Now truth agrees with mercy mild, now law and peace are reconciled;

Behold the truth from earth arise, with justice shining from the skies. Psalter #230 st 6 Day Twelve –

Truly this was the Son of God - Mark 15:39 The words of Jesus from the cross, and the signs God sent at the time Jesus gave up His spirit into His Father’s hands moved some of those who were there at His cross. Today we look at the reaction of some of the witnesses of Jesus’ crucifixion.

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Prayer: May we begin today by asking God to lead us in our study of this text that we may learn the reaction of the onlookers to the death of the Son of God.

Read: Matthew 27:54 Mark 15:39 Luke 23:47Study: 1. Who was a ‘centurion’, and what would he be doing at the cross?

2. What do Matthew 27:54 and Mark 15:39 teach about the centurion and others at the cross?

3. What does it mean to ‘glorify God’?

4. According to Luke 23:47, the centurion glorified God. Does that mean he was a believer? Can one glorify God if he is not regenerated? (compare Daniel 3:28-29 and Daniel 4:34-37)

5. What would it mean that the people ‘smote their breasts’ (Luke 23:48)?

Notes: “The Victim of the Sanhedrin, Pilate, Herod, and the wicked world had died. Their representative and officiating factotum (slave, worker), the centurion could testify to the fact. God took care of that! The centurion had not only seen the death of this strange Man, but he also saw the attending signs. The strange death of this victim! He cried with a loud voice, and then such mystifying language: “..into thy hands I commend my spirit!” It was all so unusual, so strange, so out of the ordinary! God will have His witnesses even out of the Roman oppressors. No, I do not know if the testimony of this man spelled salvation for him. He may have meant simply that this dying man is more than an ordinary mortal. We know that the superstitious Romans believed in the gods dwelling with men. But, at any rate this man must be a witness for God - like Nebuchadnezzar, the wicked king of the Old Testament. He must attest unto the great deed of almighty God, when His Christ died. But I like to believe that this centurion is a representative of God’s elect out of the great heathen world that will find all their joy in the dying Christ, but then the Christ who rose again, and is now sitting at the right hand of God!” Rev. G. Vos in The Unspeakable Gift

Meditate: May we take Psalm 116:12-13 with us today and live with thankful hearts. What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?

I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.Prayer: May we close our study in prayer, asking God to give us grace to never forget the cost of our salvation and to always rejoice in the great gift of His atonement.

What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me? How shall my soul by grace restored give worthy thanks, O Lord, to Thee?

Salvation’s cup of blessing now I take, and call upon God’s Name; Before His saints I pay my vow and here my gratitude proclaim. Psalter # 311 st.1&2

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Day Thirteen –

“Shall we weep for Him?” To end our lesson this time, we will look at different aspects of Jesus’ death on Calvary, using Rev. Vos’ description written in The Unspeakable Gift under the title The Dying Christ. Day Thirteen cont.Day Thirteen continuedPrayer: Before we look at this writing on God’s Word, may we ask Him to guide us by His Spirit that we may be instructed in these blessed truths. Read: John 19:19-30 Revelation 4 Revelation 5:11-14

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Study: For our study today, we will not have any questions, but will just be reading selected parts of a meditation by Rev. Vos on the death of Christ.

Calvary - the Most Beautiful Thing “We stand at the cross of Jesus and we see the dying Christ. What shall we do? Shall we weep for Him? No… If we weep at all, let us weep because of our terrible sin and guilt that made this spectacle necessary. Besides, what you see here at the cross of Calvary is the most beautiful Thing you will see unto all eternity. There is a great white throne in heaven, and in the midst of that throne John saw Someone who beggars description. That’s why John simply likens Him to the most precious thing he knew: the jasper stone most precious, which is like our present diamond stones. And in the midst of that manifestation of Jehovah stands the Lamb of God, standing as if slain. In other words, Jehovah will take care of it in eternity that no one ever forgets the most beautiful Thing He ever revealed, namely, Jesus Christ the Son of the living God, who went to hell for such worms as you and I.

A Most Terrible Death Well, that death of Jesus was a most terrible death. There is no other death like this death. The three hours of darkness are now passed: the culmination of His death. And what a death! A horrible death, for He was the Life! He was the holy One of Israel. He was the personification of innocence. When men go to hell they feel at once that they belong there. Our person, our body, our soul, our spirit, our everything belongs in hell - because we were corrupt and evil from our youth. But Jesus is as holy as God is holy. And He was treated like the worst of the worst. Death is punishment of sin. Death is therefore hell. And its extent is eternal. Jesus concentrated all the suffering of the elect and placed it on His own head. He suffered alone for all His people. What horrors for Jesus!

A Glorious Death But Jesus’ death was also a glorious death. We hear much about public worship. Well, the cross is the most beautiful public worship this sorry world has ever seen. It was the most beautiful worship you can imagine. It was the revelation of the loving obedience of Jesus to the Father. Henceforth He will walk the way of exaltation. He will receive a name that is above all names in this world and in the one to come.

A Fruitful Death It is also a fruitful death. Take you cue from that centurion: “Truly, this was the Son of God!” Oh yes, Jesus’ death is fruitful for the church of all the ages. Millions are reaping the fruit of Calvary. After Jesus’ death, the middle wall of partition was broken down, and the gospel marches on throughout the whole world. And God gave His sign of that happy event: He tore the veil from the top to the bottom. When He bows the head and gives up the ghost, the graves are opened and many of the bodies of the saints that slept arose. Fruitful? By the death of Jesus the way is opened for the manifestation of the eternal covenant. God all and in all!

Also fruitful for Himself, for He is going to inherit the joy that was set before Him when He entered upon the way of eternal suffering. But he has reached the end of that way, and henceforth there is only joy and pleasure for all eternity.

Shall we weep at the sight of the dying Christ? Oh no. But we will sing, we will joy in the completed work of God’s salvation.”

Day Thirteen cont.Day Thirteen continuedNotes: “Only in the way of God’s justice and perfect righteousness could the powers of darkness be overcome. Sin must be atoned. Perfect satisfaction of the righteousness of God must be provided. Only in this way could the brethren of Christ be redeemed, and His everlasting kingdom be established. The Christ

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must suffer in order to enter into His glory. There was no other way than the way of the cross. On the cross He grapples with the powers of darkness. There He crushes the head of the serpent. There He holds death in a strangle-hold. And He overcame! In prefect obedience He drank the cup which the Father gave Him to drink. He fully satisfied for all our sins, and merited for us eternal righteousness. The dominion of sin is broken. Satan is cast down. The old world is condemned. By His voluntary and perfect sacrifice He has laid the foundation of His everlasting kingdom in righteousness.” Rev. H. Hoeksema in When I Survey

Meditate: May we meditate on Psalm 40:6-7 today, rejoicing that our Savior delighted to do the will of His Father. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me. I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

Prayer: May we close our study in great thankfulness to our God for the finished work of our salvation.

Then, O my God, I come, I come, Thy purpose to fulfill; Thy law is written in my heart, ‘Tis joy to do Thy will. Psalter #108 st. 2

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