THE FAMILY ALTAR - F.W. Herzberger (1922)

April 6.

"The Jews, therefore, because it was the preparation, that the

bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath-day, (for

that Sabbath-day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs

might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came

the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which

was crucified with Him; but when they came to Jesus, and saw

that He was dead already, they brake not His legs; but one of

the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came

there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and

his record is true; and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye

might believe. For these things were done that the scripture

should be fulfilled, vA bone of Him shall not be broken. And again

another scripture saith, They shall look on Him whom they pierced."

John 19, 31—37.

Before our Savior began His final Passion, He told His dis-

ciples that all things written by the prophets concerning the Son

of Man should be accomplished. And as He declared, so it came

to pass. All the age-old, wonderful prophecies concerning His

sufferings and work of redemption were fulfilled to the letter in

His Passion. How the divine prophecies concerning His crucified

and lifeless body were observed, we learn from the text for to-day.

All these divine prophecies write with indelible, golden letters for

us over the cross: "God so loved the world that He gave His

only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not

perish, but have everlasting life." When the soldier opened our

lifeless Savior's side, we are told that blood and water came forth.

His holy, precious blood is the sin-offering which He brought for

our transgressions, the incomparable price which He paid for the

redemption of our sin-lost souls. Now we can joyfully and ador-

ingly confess: "The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth

us from all sin." And the water from His wounded side is em-

blematic of the streams of reviving and quickening waters of sal-

vation that now shall flow through all this desert world.

Now, my soul, thy voice upraising,

Tell in sweet and mournful strain

How the Crucified, enduring

Grief, and wounds, and dying pain,

Freely of His love was offered,

Sinless was for sinners slain.

Though His heart the spear is piercing,

Though His foes have seen Him die,

Blood and water thence are streaming

In a tide of mystery;

Water from our guilt to cleanse us,

Blood to win us crowns on high.