I have begun reading "The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross" by A.W. Pink along with folks on Tim Challie's (author of "The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment") blog. We read the introduction and began discussion yesterday. It's not too late to start. I have linked to an online copy of the book. So far, I find Pink's study very insightful and edifying. How great is the love of our Saviour!

Here were my thoughts on the introduction, as I posted them on Tim Challies' blog:

I am excited to read this Christian Classic with you, and to join in the discussions. May God open His Word to each one of us, as together we “study prayerfully” what A. W. Pink has labored to bring forth from “the scripture of truth”.

Pink’s reflections on how often we can pass over the reality of Christ’s death being a natural, human death as “simple and commonplace” really stood out to me as well. Pink is right, this is an amazing truth that should grab the Christian heart. You write that,

“The fact that this can seem so unremarkable to us proves that we do not have a sufficient apprehension of just who Jesus was. That God Himself could suffer and face a very human death is far more remarkable than we are accustomed to thinking.”

I agree, Tim. I was very edified and challenged by how well Pink seems to grasp, and keep in mind, Jesus’ Divine nature, as he looks at the narratives of our Saviour’s sufferings. I think we can often get too comfortable thinking of Jesus only as the suffering, down trodden human on the cross, or the meek little baby in the manger, and forget that He is the eternal Son of God, and He has been made King to reign forever.

As I read through Pink’s thoughts on the evidences of the supernatural nature of Christ’s death, I was just really struck with the majesty and power of Jesus on the cross, willingly, actively laying down His life for His sheep. This is not to take away from the unimaginable sufferings that our Lord underwent in His body and soul, it is only to recognize that it was truly He in whom the fullness of the godhead dwells bodily who suffered willingly for us.