Daily Devotionals

John Gossner's Treasury

Devotional: March 19th

And (before they crucified him) they gave him vinegar to drink, mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. Matthew 27:34. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Luke 23:34.

They offer Him gall: He repays the bitter draught with the sweet prayer for the forgiveness of their sins. What is all our conduct and action but gall and wormwood? Sin manifestly is more bitter to Him than gall and more distasteful than vinegar and tincture of myrrh. He is not fond of this bitter draught which we offer Him. Nevertheless, He does not reject nor curse us because of this; but He appears before His Father in our stead and prays that God will not impute to us our sins nor judge us. However, after God has pardoned you, you must no longer offer Him gall and tincture of myrrh, but the sweet wine of love and gratitude. Your soul must cling to God with a loving and faithful heart. The bitter gall of evil lust, of hatred and of envy, is unbearable to Him. His grace will create in you a burning desire to please Him; a holy earnestness in "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts and in living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. " He turns from His murderers to His Father; yet not against them, but for them. He does not call down vengeance upon His enemies, but the Father’s mercy; He does not offer up complaints, but extenuation’s and intercessions; He does not demand of His Father that He send down fire to destroy His enemies, but that He would grant them forgiveness and grace; draw them to Himself; save them, and make them eternally blessed.

Paschal Lamb, by God appointed.

All our sins on Thee were laid;

By almighty Love anointed,

Thou hast full atonement made.

All Thy people are forgiven,

Through the virtue of Thy blood:

Opened is the gate of heaven;

Peace is made ’twixt man and God.