May 16

“Who his own self bare our sins in his body upon

the tree.” 1 Peter 2:24

Man sins through his body and in that body enjoys the temporary pleasure of sin. The body must accordingly bear the judgment due to sin. This partly explains the physical sufferings of our Savior. His sufferings in his body are clearly foretold in the messianic writings. His hands, his feet, his brow, his side, his heart were all pierced at Calvary; pierced not only by sinful men but pierced for sinful humanity.

The hands must be nailed, for the hands love to sin. The mouth must become parched, for it is so often an instrument of sin. The feet must be transfixed, for they lead into sin. The brow must be pierced by a thorny crown, for it too loves to sin. All that the human body needed to suffer was executed upon his holy body. It was within his power to avoid these sufferings, yet he willingly offered his body to endure immeasurable pains for us, only dismissing his spirit when he was sure that all had been accomplished.