FAMILY ALTAR - F.W. Herzberger (1922)

April 5.

"Now, when the centurion, and they that were with him,

watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were

done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly, this was the Son of God.

And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding

the things which were done, smote their breasts and returned."

Matt. 27:54; Luke 23:47-48.

    Wonderful and mighty signs in nature accompanied the death

of our Lord. Great and glorious signs His saving death now calls

forth also in the hearts of men. The dying thief was the first-

fruits of His blessed cross among the Jews; this confessing and

believing centurion is His first-fruits among the Gentiles. Of the

brave Roman Captain Gordius, who was dragged before the heathen

authorities at Caesarea in the great persecution of the year 303,

and urged to deny his Savior and thus spare his life, it is told

that he replied: "I remember the first centurion who stood by

the cross of Jesus and became convinced of His divine glory by

the mighty signs that were done, how he did not hesitate openly

to confess his Savior's name before the furious Jews by declaring,

'Truly, this is the Son of God.' " Then did this brave soldier sign

himself with the cross and willingly surfer death for Jesus' sake.

So will we ever confess before all doubters and unbelievers of these

last, sad days: "Truly, the crucified Jesus is the Son of God!"

    But we can do so only when, like the people under the cross, we

have learned to repent and to smite our breasts in deep contrition

over our sins, and, when we have wandered away from our Savior,

to return to Him with believing and humble hearts. Verily, our

hearts must prove harder than the rocks that burst at the Savior's

death, if we can view His great sufferings and dying love for us

with coldness and indifference. God grant us true repentance for -

With broken heart and contrite sigh,

A trembling sinner, Lord, I cry;

Thy pardoning grace is rich and free:

0 God, be merciful to me!

1 smite upon my troubled breast,

With deep and conscious guilt oppressed;

Christ and His cross my only plea:

O God, be merciful to me!

Far off I stand with tearful eyes,

Nor dare uplift them to the skies;

But Thou dost all my anguish see;

O God, be merciful to me!

Nor alms, nor deeds that I have done

Can for a single sin atone;

To Calvary alone I flee;

O God, be merciful to me!