THE FAMILY ALTAR FOR 29 MARCH 2025 (F.W. Herzberger - 1922)

March 29.

"And they that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads,

and saying, Thou that destroyest the Temple, and buildest it in

three days, save Thyself. If Thou be the Son of God, come down

from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests, mocking Him,

with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; Himself He

cannot save. If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down

from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God;

let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him; for He said,

I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with

Him, cast the same in His teeth." Matt. 21:39

 

"But I am a worm and no man; a reproach of men, and

despised of the people. All they that see Me laugh Me to scorn;

they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 'He trusted

on the Lord that He would deliver Him; let Him deliver Him,

seeing He delighted in Him.' " Psalm 22:6

These prophetic words of the

twenty-second Psalm were fulfilled to the letter in our suffering

Eedeemer, as may be clearly seen from our text. Not a word of

comfort, of pity, does He hear in His great woe and agony; only

bitter scorn and reproach. But the hooting and cursing enemies

of our crucified Lord are glorifying Him and His blessed work

of redemption without knowing it. "He saved others/' they mock-

ingly say, and thus bear witness to His glorious miracles in which

He helped the poor and sick among them. "He trusted in God,"

they jeer, and thus testify to His pious life among them, to His

abiding trust and confidence in God. "He said: I am the Son

of God," they scoff, and thereby unwittingly confirm the divine

honor He claimed and which He maintained by His divine words

and works among them. Ah, He could have stepped down from

the cross and destroyed these blaspheming enemies with one word

of His omnipotent lips, but He endures their cruel mockery

patiently, silently, is obedient to His Father even unto the death

of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and

given Him a name which is above every name; that at the name

of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things

in earth, and things under the earth ; and that every tongue should

confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Hail, Thou once-despised Jesus! 

Paschal Lamb, by God appointed,

Hail, Thou Galilean King! 

All our sins on Thee were laid;

Thou didst suffer to release us; 

By almighty love anointed,

Thou didst free salvation bring. 

Thou hast full atonement made.

Hail, Thou agonizing Savior, 

All Thy people are forgiven

Bearer of our sin and shame! 

Through the virtue of Thy blood;

By Thy merits we find favor; 

Opened is the gate of heaven;

Life is given through Thy name. 

Peace is made 'twixt man and God.