Sunday
November 18
1. ANGUISH OF SOUL
a. What is written about the anguish of the Son of God? Matthew 26:38.
“How few have any conception of the anguish which rent the heart of the Son of God during His thirty years of life upon earth. The path from the manger to Calvary was shadowed by sorrow and grief. He was the Man of Sorrows, and endured such heartache as no human language can portray.”—That I May Know Him, p. 66.
b. How is the suffering of Jesus most vividly illustrated? Isaiah 53:3–5, 7, 8.
“Hating sin with a perfect hatred, [the man of Sorrows] yet gathered to His soul the sins of the whole world, as He trod the path to Calvary, suffering the penalty of the transgressor. Guiltless, He bore the punishment of the guilty; innocent, yet offering Himself to bear the penalty of the transgression of the law of God. The punishment of the sins of every soul was borne by the Son of the infinite God. The guilt of every sin pressed its weight upon the divine soul of the world’s Redeemer.”—Ibid.
“[The adorable Redeemer] did not die as a hero in the eyes of the world, loaded with honors, as men in battle. He died as a condemned criminal, suspended between the heavens and the earth—died a lingering death of shame, exposed to the tauntings and revilings of a debased, crime-loaded, profligate multitude!”—Ibid., p. 68.
Monday
November 19
2. A HEART-RENDING SCENE
a. How should our heart be softened and subdued by beholding Christ on the cross? Luke 23:33, 34.
“Can you, in full view of the cross, beholding by the eye of faith the sufferings of Christ, tell your tale of woe, your trials? Can you nurse revenge of your enemies in your heart while the prayer of Christ comes from His pale and quivering lips for His revilers, His murderers—‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do’ (Luke 23:34)?”—That I May Know Him, p. 65.
b. How can beholding the crucifixion be of practical benefit to the proud heart inherent in each one of us? 1 Peter 1:18–21; John 1:29.
“Pride and self-worship cannot flourish in the soul that keeps fresh in memory the scenes of Calvary.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 661.
“We should take our fitting place in humble penitence at the foot of the cross. We may learn the lessons of meekness and lowliness of mind as we go up to Mount Calvary, and, looking upon the cross, see our Saviour in agony, the Son of God dying, the Just for the unjust. Behold Him who could summon legions of angels to His assistance with one word, a subject of jest and merriment, of reviling and hatred. He gives Himself a sacrifice for sin. When reviled, He threatened not; when falsely accused, He opened not His mouth. He prays on the cross for His murderers. He is dying for them. He is paying an infinite price for every one of them. He would not lose one whom He has purchased at so great cost. He gives Himself to be smitten and scourged without a murmur. And this uncomplaining victim is the Son of God. His throne is from everlasting, and His kingdom shall have no end.”—That I May Know Him, p. 65.
“All this humiliation of the Majesty of heaven was for guilty, condemned man. He went lower and lower in His humiliation, until there were no lower depths that He could reach, in order to lift man up from his moral defilement. All this was for you.”—Ibid., p. 68.
Tuesday
November 20
3. THE HEAVY COST OF SIN
a. How does a lack of appreciation for the sacrifice of Christ relate to our natural tendency toward self-indulgence? Hebrews 10:26.
“Those who profess to keep the law of God and yet at heart are indulging in sin are condemned by the True Witness. They claim to be rich in a knowledge of the truth; but they are not in harmony with its sacred principles. The truth does not sanctify their lives. God’s Word declares that the professed commandment-keeper whose life contradicts his faith is blind, wretched, poor, and naked.”—Faith and Works, p. 31.
b. Explain the relationship between sin, the law, and the cross. Romans 7:7; 1 John 3:4, 5.
“Jesus died to save His people from their sins, and redemption in Christ means to cease the transgression of the law of God and to be free from every sin; no heart that is stirred with enmity against the law of God is in harmony with Christ, who suffered on Calvary to vindicate and exalt the law before the universe.”—Ibid., p. 95.
“Our love to Christ will be in proportion to the depth of our conviction of sin, and by the law is the knowledge of sin. But as we see ourselves, let us look away to Jesus, who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity. By faith take hold of the merits of Christ, and the soul-cleansing blood will be applied. The more clearly we see the evils and perils to which we have been exposed, the more grateful shall we be for deliverance through Christ. The gospel of Christ does not give men license to break the law, for it was through transgression that the floodgates of woe were opened upon our world.
“Today sin is the same malignant thing that it was in the time of Adam. The gospel does not promise the favor of God to anyone who in impenitence breaks His law. The depravity of the human heart, the guilt of transgression, the ruin of sin, are all made plain by the cross where Christ has made for us a way of escape.”—Ibid., p. 96.
Wednesday
November 21
4. UNDERSTANDING THE PRINCE OF PEACE
a. What does Inspiration teach about the amazing attraction of Christ’s crucifixion? John 3:14, 15; 12:32.
“The cross of Calvary appeals in power, affording a reason why we should love Christ now, and why we should consider Him first, and best, and last, in everything.”—That I May Know Him, p. 65.
“If you are conscious of your sins, do not devote all your powers to mourning over them, but look and live. Jesus is our only Saviour.”—Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 352.
b. What is the first step in appropriating the righteousness of Christ to ourselves? John 6:37; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 1:9.
“Let no one here feel that his case is hopeless; for it is not. You may see that you are sinful and undone; but it is just on this account that you need a Saviour. If you have sins to confess, lose no time. These moments are golden. ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9). Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled; for Jesus has promised it.”—Ibid., pp. 352, 353.
c. Whenever the professed Christian world delights in pagan festivities at Christmas time, what should the solemnity of Christ’s sacrifice cause us to keep in mind? Jeremiah 10:1–6.
“Yesterday was Christmas. Did you do as the Wise Men did by offering your gifts to Jesus? Or has the enemy changed the order of things, and directed the worship to himself? The gifts are now bestowed upon friends instead of Him who has made so great a sacrifice for us. All the gifts should flow in another channel, where they could be used in the salvation of men.”—The Upward Look, p. 374.
Thursday
November 22
5. MOTIVATING POWER
a. What can we learn from the heavenly angels’ appreciation of Christ’s sacrifice? Revelation 5:11, 12.
b. How is Christ’s crucifixion to motivate us in a practical way? Romans 5:8–11; Galatians 5:6; 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15.
“It is that faith which works that you want. How does it work? It works by love. What love? Why, the love flashing from the cross of Calvary. It is set up midway between earth and heaven, and salvation is gained by looking at this cross. The Father has accepted it, and the angelic host have come to that cross, and God Himself has bowed in acceptance of the sacrifice. It answers the demand of Heaven, and man can be saved through Jesus Christ, if we only have faith in Him. Man is reconciled to God, and God to man, through the full and perfect and entire sacrifice. . . .
“Now, when we see a ray of light we want to lay hold upon it. The devil is working against this all the time. It is the faith that works by love that is witnessed by Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. It is the love that He has had for my soul. Christ has died for me. He has purchased me at an infinite cost, and He has atoned for everything that is offensive to Him. I must be a laborer with Him. I must take His yoke upon myself. I must wear the yoke of Christ. I must lift His burdens. I must teach others how to be lifted from the sinful state that I was in and to grasp by living faith the righteousness that is in Christ Jesus. That is the only way that the sinner can be saved.”—Faith and Works, p. 72.
Friday
November 23
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Of what is Calvary a demonstration?
2. How should this theme affect our attitude?
3. What does Christ’s crucifixion tell us about God’s law?
4. Explain the drawing power of the cross.
5. How should we respond to the Saviour’s crucifixion in our behalf?