Christ's doctrine of the atonement - Smeaton - XI - Chapter 3 continued

Required reading
Christ's doctrine of the atonement by George Smeaton (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter 3 by reading Sections XX to XXI.

My summary
This week Smeaton continues to focus on the constituent elements of the atonement.

Firstly Smeaton outlines how the facts and history of the Lord's passion must needs be correctly apprehended in the light of his sayings.

Then Smeaton examines three statements from Jesus that demonstrate he was a conscious sin bearer in the prospect of his agony and during it:
(i) Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. (Joh 12:27);
(ii) Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. 40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. 43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. 44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. (Mat 26:36-44);
(iii) And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mat 27:46).

Smeaton summarises the message of these three statements in his own words: 'He bore (1) the soul-trouble, that His people might not bear it ; (2) He drank the cup of the garden, that they might not drink it ; (3) He was forsaken on the cross, that they might never know that desertion.'

What grabbed me
I enjoyed Smeaton's closing paragraph about the importance of Christ's divinity: 'Had the second Adam been a mere man, there could have been no such vicarious work, because He would have been bound to full obedience on His own account, and that obedience could not have extended to others. But the second man, being the Son of God, rendered a vicarious obedience, and encountered a vicarious suffering, not necessary for Himself, and of infinite value. And, because of His divine person, the brief period of His agony was a fully adequate and perfect satisfaction for the sins of His people, from the infinite dignity and infinite merit of the sufferer. '

Jesus' suffering was real and brought infinite merit to sinful creatures.  Praise God!

Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 3 by reading Section XXII.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.