VIII

=Discipline through Self-sacrifice=

GOOD FRIDAY

1 Tim. ii. 6

  “Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself a ransom for all.”

To-day we reach the solemn climax which embraces in itself the whole idea of discipline under each of those aspects upon which we have touched.  Will, body, soul, spirit, obedience, suffering, death, all summed up in the tremendous self-sacrifice declared by the Cross of Christ.

The principle of sacrifice is one of those deep mysteries which seem, as it were, to be rooted in the very nature of our being.  It begins in the initial fact by which man’s existence is maintained upon earth—­motherhood, a vast vicarious sacrifice.  Yet borne with gratitude, readiness, ay, even with joy because of the dignity, the love, the delights it brings with it.  One of the surest signs of the decadence of a nation is when its women, through desire of merely living for themselves, begin to rebel against the high privilege of motherhood, or to neglect the duties it should entail.  This attitude of mind poisons life at its fountain-head.

Time would fail us, nor indeed would it be profitable, to enter upon a discussion as to the exact theological bearing of the death of Christ upon the forgiveness of sins.  This is a matter which may rightly occupy the attention of theologians and scholars who endeavour, so far as infinite verities can be expressed in finite language, to give a reason for the hope that is in them.  Such books as Liddon’s Bampton Lectures, Dale on the Atonement, or Illingworth on Personality, will be found most valuable by those who have the time and the capacity for studying them.  It is a good thing, especially in these days, that the intellect of the Christian should be well-equipped, so that he may silence the taunts of those who say Christianity is purely a matter of emotion.

The personal acceptance of Christ as a personal Saviour rests, not so much on arguments, as on a sense of need; when this is accompanied by strong intellectual grip of truth then the influence of the Christian upon others becomes a great missionary factor.  The beauty of the Gospel story lies in its wonderful adaptability.  It is the same in its power to a Pascal, a Butler, a Liddon, as it is to the unlettered peasant, who can neither read nor write.

Scripture declares quite plainly that the death of Christ was “for us”; how far this may be pressed to mean “instead of us” is a very grave question.  The words will bear that interpretation, no doubt, but we must remember that they do not necessarily involve any more than “in our behalf,” that is, for our benefit.