11. Осужденный и его смертная казнь

It happens that a person, based on his merits and according to the laws, is condemned to death. And they lead him outside the city, and a multitude of people follow him, and at a certain place he is executed. From this disgrace, Christian, turn your mind and reflection to the terrible and terrible disgrace of Christ’s saving suffering. Thus Christ, the Son of God, was judged and condemned to death. But unrighteously and innocently He was led to death, like a sheep to the slaughter, “and a great multitude of people followed Him” (Luke 23:27). And outside the city he was taken to the place of death, and there, between two villains, he suffered the cross and death penalty. A terrible and touching disgrace! The Son of God and Lord of glory, as a villain, was condemned and led to death, and accepted the death penalty! From whom? From His evil servants! For whom? For His indecent servants! The slaves sinned, and the Master suffered the punishment! “He was wounded for our sins and tormented for our iniquities” (Is. 53:5). Where? Outside the gates of Jerusalem! In front of whom? Before the eyes of God, angelic and human. You see, Christian, a terrible and terrible disgrace. Look and reason about the reason for it! The reason for this is our sins. So my, and yours, and the whole world’s sins were cleansed. Thus the truth of God was satisfied, which was irritated by the sins of the world! Thus God was reconciled with the world and the world with God! Thus, we, sinners, deserved justification, and eternal salvation was achieved! This is how we were delivered from captivity and the power of the devil, hellish torment and eternal death! Thus, the ascent to heaven was prepared for us, and the kingdom of heaven, closed by our sins, was opened, and everything that we had lost in Adam was returned! In Adam, we were subjected to the devil and his dark power - and through Christ’s suffering we were delivered from him. In Adam we sinned and became cursed - and through Christ's suffering the justification and blessing of God returned to us. In Adam we died and were destroyed, but through Christ’s suffering we came to life and were saved. In Adam we moved away from God, but through Christ’s suffering we were brought to God. In Adam we were expelled from paradise, but through Christ’s suffering we returned to heaven, not earthly paradise. In Adam we were dishonored and put to shame, but through Christ’s suffering we are honored and glorified. In Adam we lost all good things and fell into all kinds of misfortune and damnation - but through Christ’s suffering we received all good things and were delivered from all misfortunes. So, from Christ’s suffering, as from the source of salvation, all our well-being flows. His suffering is the reason for our joy. His death is the reason for our life. Through His judgment and condemnation we were delivered from eternal judgment and condemnation. By His stripes we are healed. His bonds with which He was bound freed us from the bonds of sin, for which we sing to Him with the prophet: “You have broken my bonds. I will offer you a sacrifice of praise” (Ps. 116:7–8). From His sadness, sorrow and torment, peace and eternal joy flowed to us. With His merciful tears the tears of our eyes are wiped away and are valid before the Heavenly Father. The exposure of His Divine Body made us a robe of salvation and a robe of joy. Through His humility and humiliation we ascended. From reproach and dishonor, His eternal honor and glory followed us. In a word, all spiritual and eternal bliss flowed to us from this saving Source. For this, we send eternal thanks to Him, the Author of our life, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Always remember, Christian, the time in which our bliss took place. Remember that time in which God in human and slave form appeared on earth for our sake and lived, spoke among sinners, ate, drank and talked with sinners; that time in which He endured blasphemy and persecution from His evil servants; in which for the sake of our sins I grieved, grieved, was horrified and poured out bloody sweat; into which he was sold by a flattering and ungrateful student, betrayed and abandoned by other students; in which he was tied up, brought to trial, tried and sentenced to death, was scolded, spat on and bitten to death; in which they cried out at Him: “Take, take, crucify Him” (John 19:6); in which he was numbered among the lawless, and for the sake of our salvation he died on the Cross. And try to follow and please your Redeemer with faith, love, humility, meekness and patience, and may you reign with Him forever. You might be interested in: