Lord’s Day, September 29, 2019

1 Kings 21:1-29; Jeremiah 32:26-44; Hebrews 4:1-13


Then [they] took Jesus. John 18:12


It is hard to fathom these words. His created beings “took Jesus”
and bound Him (John 18:12); Pilate “took Jesus” and scourged Him
(19:1); the chief priests “took Jesus” to be crucified (19:16). Then, in
tender tones, we read that Joseph of Arimathaea “took the body of
Jesus” from the cross (19:38), then, with Nicodemus, they “took the
body of Jesus” to prepare it for burial (19:40). It may seem that Jesus
appears passive in this whole process. But this was all done “that
the scripture might be fulfilled” (John 19:24, 28, 36). Make no mistake,
Jesus was in total control. His purpose? That He, Himself, might
“take” something: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the
sins of the world” (John 1:29). —Brian Cretney


He took my sins and my sorrows, He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calv’ry, and suffered, and died alone.—C. Gabriel