Every insult that men could possibly heap on Him is done. Everybody sets Him at naught. What does He do? He bears it. At length the choice is made between Him and Barabbas, the murderer and the robber, the very scum of the earth, who is about to die for his own sins. Pilate asks the multitude which they will have released to them, and they cry, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Barabbas is released, and the Son of God goes, bearing the robber’s cross, to Calvary to die. But nothing but love is seen in Him.

At length, He is heard to cry out in agony, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” It was in that darkness that the sin of man was being estimated, and by His sufferings there, Jesus was effecting propitiation and making atonement, as He met all the claims of God in righteousness and holiness. He then lays down His precious life.

There is a deep unspeakable significance in that cross. There He is made sin, and there God forsakes Him. The work of atonement is there “finished” by the suffering, dying Savior. He dies with a cry that rends the rocks, and the veil of the temple is rent by God’s own hand from top to bottom. Propitiation is effected. All God’s claims in righteousness are met, and what is the result? The Holy Spirit comes down to tell you and me that there is cleansing and salvation for the worst sinner, through the blood of this beloved One, who died on that tree.

Oh! there was never a night of sorrow like that. There was never suffering like the suffering of Jesus. Will you not praise Him? Shall not your heart be all for Him?