A great multitude of the people followed him, and women who also mourned and lamented him. But Jesus, turning to them, said, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

Luke 23:27,28

Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, was on His way to Golgotha, the place of execution. At His birth angels in the field had proclaimed, "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2: 10,11).

The joy had given way to wailing and lamenting, for the very people for whom He had come had rejected Him; and their leaders did not rest until He was innocently sentenced to be crucified.

It is always a pitiable scene when a criminal is led to the gallows. In this case hearts were broken, for the Lord had made so many joyful with His "words of grace" and healed them from their sufferings with divine power. The mourners among those women were surely sincere!

Now sympathy is not enough. When confronted with the sufferings of Christ, we must make a stand. We must ask ourselves, "What does that mean to me?" The Lord did not think of Himself. He felt for the people, "His people” whose rejection of Him would have terrible consequences. Nor can we merely sympathize with Him: we all share the guilt for His death. Only by judging our life without God hitherto and turning to Him in faith can we obtain the forgiveness of our sins. There on the cross Jesus was judged by God for the sins of all who put their faith in Him.

Good Seed Calendar, April 14/06