March 31

Morning

But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. — Isa 53:5 BSB

Pilate handed our Lord over to be scourged by the Roman lictors. The Roman scourging was a brutal and horrifying form of torture. The whip was made of ox sinews, with sharp bones woven into the cords. Each time the whip struck, the embedded bones would rip through the flesh, leaving deep wounds and tearing the skin from the victim’s body. Our Savior was likely bound to a post and endured this severe beating. Though He had been beaten before, this Roman scourging was likely the harshest of all.

My soul, stand here and weep for His poor, broken body. Believer, can you look at Him without tears, as He stands before you—the very image of agonizing love? He is as pure as a lily in His innocence, yet His body is as red as a rose, stained with His own blood. As we feel the healing that His wounds have brought to us, does not our heart break with love and sorrow? If ever we have loved our Lord Jesus, surely that love must burn brighter within us now.

“See how the patient Jesus stands,
Insulted in His lowest case!
Sinners have bound the Almighty’s hands,
And spit in their Creator’s face!

With thorns His temples gored and gashed
Send streams of blood from every part;
His back’s with knotted scourges lashed.
But sharper scourges tear His heart!”

We would retreat to our rooms and weep, but since the day’s work calls us away, we will first pray that our Beloved would impress the image of His bleeding self upon our hearts all day long. And at night, we will return to commune with Him, grieving that our sins cost Him so much!

Evening

And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest until the rain from heaven poured down on the bodies, she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night. — 2 Sam 21:10 BSB

If the love of a woman for her slain sons could compel her to keep a long and sorrowful vigil, shall we grow weary of remembering the sufferings of our blessed Lord? She kept the vultures away, and shouldn’t we chase away the worldly and sinful thoughts that try to defile our minds and distract us from reflecting on His sacrifice? Away, you birds of evil! Leave the holy sacrifice alone!

Rizpah endured the heat of summer, the cold dew of night, and the rain, all without shelter and all alone. She was too full of grief to sleep. How great was her love for her children! Should Rizpah endure so much, and will we give up at the first sign of discomfort or trial? Are we so weak that we cannot suffer with our Lord?

Rizpah drove away wild animals with a boldness uncommon for a woman of her time. Will we not face every foe with courage for the sake of Jesus?

Her sons were slain by others, yet she wept and watched over them. But what about us, who by our own sins crucified our Lord? Our obligations are infinite, our love should burn with passion, and our repentance should be deep. Watching with Jesus should be our highest duty, protecting His honor our constant work, and finding comfort at His cross our greatest joy.

Rizpah sat by the lifeless bodies of her sons, a sight that must have filled her with horror. But at the cross where we sit, there is no revulsion—only beauty! No living beauty was ever as captivating as our dying Savior. Jesus, we will stay with You. Reveal Yourself to us, and we will not sit in mourning but rejoice in the royal pavilion of Your presence!