A View Of Calvary

George Cowell | Added: Oct 16, 2025 | Category: Theology

It is the blood that maketh Atonement for the Soul—Leviticus 17:11

A view of Calvary sometimes does us good. We do not want a cross hung round the neck, or a crucifix thrust in our face by an impertinent priest; but we do want a Faith’s view of Calvary and the Crucified One, which shall endear Him more and more to our immortal Souls. 

‘It is the blood that maketh the Atonement for the Soul.’ The blood of the slain beasts was to be offered to the LORD at the door of the tabernacle, but all eating of the blood was strictly forbidden. This was one of the many pointings to the vicarious Sacrifice and Atonement of Christ for Sin in the room and stead of His People. ‘He once suffered for Sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God’ (1 Peter 3:18). This is a vital point in our most holy Faith. But, alas! it is highly distressing to mark how men of intelligence and position in the present day ignore ‘the Atonement of Christ’. We meet with it on all sides. The fact is, it is fashionable to be religious, and almost everybody makes a profession; and the idea of Christ’s shedding His blood for the Atonement of our Souls is repugnant to those who possess only a natural religion, and have ‘a name to live, but are dead’ (Revelation 3:1).

But let the natural men say and think what they will, the Declaration of the Sacred Scriptures remains the same: ‘Without shedding of blood there is no remission’ (Hebrews 9:22); and if no Remission, there can be no Heaven—for nothing that defileth can enter there (Revelation 21:27). It is, therefore, impossible for one denying the Atonement, and whose Sins are still upon him, to pass through the pearly gates. Such are as much rejecting Christ, as those did who, when He appeared on the pavement, with His face and hair and shoulders clotted with blood, cried, ‘Away with Him! away with Him!’ (John 19:15). I would not be in their plight for ten thousand worlds. Blessed be His precious name, we, dear Readers, are not rejecting Him, but revere Him; and the once Suffering but now Glorified One at the right hand of the Father, is our Saviour and our Joy. Who hath made us to differ? It is all of grace. 

Well then, beloved, we affirm that the Declaration before us— ‘It is the blood that maketh Atonement’, is a pointing to that atonement which Jesus made on the Cross when He shed His precious Blood for us. Indeed, every sacrifice and offering pointed to Him who offered up Himself for us; and all the offices of Christ, and all the benefits of His Redemption, are set forth in types and shadows. Some set forth His spotless character, some His Atonement and His taking away Sin, and others show how He pardons and saves His People. And when Christ came, all these shadows fled away, finding their Substance in Him; and it is a wicked and Christ-dishonouring thing to go back to them (Galatians 2:18), as the Roman Catholics and Ritualists do.

A short time back, when in the South of England, we went to the service if one of those plain churches of our land, where a simple evangelical service is held, and the Church left undecorated by offerings displeasing to God; and there were two things which struck us as being exceedingly nice:—the first was this, that in bold characters by the side of the ten commandments was written, ‘IT IS FINISHED’. ‘Yes’, thought I, ‘that is it—Christ fulfilled every requirement of the Law’. ‘Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth’ (Romans 10:4). ‘That the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit’ (Romans 8:4). I rejoiced to see those words, ‘It is finished’, boldly written beside the commandments of the Law. And the other thing that seemed nice was that over the door from the Vestry, from which issued the Ministers. It was written in equally bold letters— ‘Brethren pray for us’. Ah! such points are worth all the fast-decaying posies and emblems of Cain’s offerings (Genesis 4:3), which abound in the churches of our land. We want Gospel Truths pointed to, and the Fulness and Perfection of Christ brought out to the Honour of His Great Name. And those who preach such will earnestly desire to put up the burden of that cry printed over the Vestry door referred to— ‘Brethren pray for us’. 

But we speak of the Old Testament pointing to Christ. We go further back, and affirm that our Lord’s crucifixion was predestined. Yes, everything was planned and predicted in the Court of Heaven, before the foundation of the world, concerning our Lord’s sufferings and death. Hence we are told that Jesus was set forth by the Eternal Father to be a Propitiation for the remission of Sins, and the Testimony of personal Remission is ‘Faith in His blood’ (Romans 3:25). And again, the Holy Spirit ‘testified beforehand the suffering of Christ and the Glory that should follow’ (1 Peter 1:11); and our blessed Lord is declared to be ‘the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world’ (Revelation 13:8). The Victim which Infinite Wisdom appointed was no other than the co-equal Son of God; and because DEITY could not suffer, ‘a body’ was prepared for Him (Hebrews 10:5), that perfect humanity might bleed in sacrifice, and that sacrifice might be acceptable and meritorious by virtue of its union with Deity. Surely this is clear.

And then while as we have said and shown by the Word, that everything concerning our Lord’s Atonement was predestined and predicted, everything was planned, and such Predictions were delivered to God’s appointed Servants, to declare concerning Him. For instance, those who took part in the crucifixion always divided and shared the garments of the Criminal; but, when the Roman soldiers came to our Lord’s Vestment, without a seam, woven from the top throughout, they agreed not to rend it, but to cast lots for it, fulfilling the Prediction, ‘They parted My garments among them, and cast lots upon My vesture’ (Psalm 22:18). Again, ‘Then were there two thieves crucified with Him, one on the right hand, and another on the left’ (Matthew 27:38). Here was the fulfilment of that Prophecy, ‘He was numbered with the transgressors’ (Isaiah 53:12). And again, the legs of our precious Crucified One were not broken, according to the custom of crucifixion, fulfilling the Prediction, ‘A bone of Him shall not be broken’ (John 19:36). And yet once more; the thrusting of the spear into His dear side, fulfilled the Prediction, ‘They shall look upon Him whom they have pierce’ (John 19:37). Ah! yes, and His people do still. I for one, have looked upon Him whom I have pierced—for my Sins helped to nail Him upon the cross. I think of Him arriving at Golgotha—the place of skulls; I think of the ignominy offered to Him; of the pain of His Punishment; of the wound-prints in His dear hands and feet; of the spear-thrust into His dear side; of the sarcastic expressions uttered by His Enemies, and His Blessing those that cursed Him; of the raillery and mockery of those who but a few days before had received Him with ‘Hosannas’; and one thing was particularly uppermost in my Faith’s view of Calvary, it was this—that every limb of Christ’s precious body was made to suffer. Those hands that had been outstretched to unloose burdens, and which were uplifted in Blessings, were nailed to the cross. Those feet, which walked so many weary miles to do good and spread Gospel Tidings of great Joy, were rivetted by nails to the accursed tree. That head, which had been raised in Love and Mercy over many a poor wayworn Pilgrim, was wreathed in thorns, and drooped upon His shoulders; and yet, with it all—with all the Agonies He endured, we seemed to behold His calm dignity and firm Purpose, to ‘give His life a Ransom for many’ (Matthew 20:28). Was ever love like this!

But there were yet other things marked in our view of Calvary. We noted what a wonderful Miracle of Grace was performed at the crucifixion of our Lord, to stamp for ever the Divine Verity with Godhead Power. He came ‘to save to the uttermost’ (Hebrews 7:25). Amidst the Mockers around the cross, and the Mocker on one side of the cross, there was yet that Elect Vessel of Mercy (Romans 9:23) on the other side of the cross, who, moved by Divine Grace, and acknowledging the Character and Power of the Lord of Glory, pleading for Mercy at the eleventh hour, cried ‘Jesus, Lord (1 Corinthians 12:2), remember me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom’ (Luke 23:42). Jesus, turning, as it were, the cross into a Throne, replied, with Kingly Power and Pardon upon His lips, ‘Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise’. A dying Thief in Paradise with the LORD Jehovah! If this is not a Seal of Sovereign Grace and Mercy, what is it?

Another thing that came to view was the fact that, while Sinful mortals reviled and rejected Him, all nature did Him homage. ‘And it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit: and having said thus, He gave up the ghost’ (Luke 23:44-46). Mark, ‘the sun was darkened’. The sun, that glorious luminary of the heavens, hid his face, as if ashamed of what was done by wicked men to the Lord of Glory, and for three hours the mantle of pitchy darkness pervaded all nature. Was not this a significant and miraculous Testimony to who and what Christ was—the God of nature and creation and Grace? And, while He suffered, nature itself was clothed in the sable view of sorrow. The thoughtful, Spirit-taught Christian marks in such facts the Power and Sovereignty of the Saviour he adores. And then, not only was ‘the sun darkened’ and ‘Behold, the veil of the temple rent in twain from the top to bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the Saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after His Resurrection, and appeared unto many’ (Matthew 27:51—53).

Did ever such things occur before or since? Never. Crucifixions were frequent in those days, but never before was there such a Testimony. Everything that occurred confirmed the fact that the Sufferer was the God-Man Christ Jesus. And then when His earthly mother, His mother’s sister, Mary Magdalene, and the beloved Disciple observed the veil of darkness extending over the face of nature, they drew near to the foot of the cross. Ah! sorrow, when the heart loves Christ, draws us to His feet. Afflictive Providences bring us near unto Him. ‘To whom shall we go, but to Thee? Thou hast the Words of Eternal Life!’ (John 6:68). And it is also at the feet of the crucified Saviour we learn the Supreme Truth of Christianity, and the reality of personal religion. Take away the Atonement, and Christianity is a misnomer. Oh, let me look up by Faith to the bleeding Sacrifice, and let me be, as I have been, overcome and melted with love at the survey—to think that the dear and precious harmless and Sinless Son of God suffered for me—died that He might gain for me Eternal Life! Shed His precious Blood to wash all my Sins away! Oh, it does melt one! Was ever love like this? No, never! He laid down His life in Love. Oh, to love Him ten thousand times more than I do. My love and gratitude outflow, from a broken and contrite heart, for Him who has done so much for me. Sayest thou, dear Reader, ‘Yes, and for me, even me too?’ 

Oh, my Soul, put thy trust wholly upon the crucified One. Why needest thou ‘fear the darkest hour?’ Nothing can harm the Child of God, who rests upon the Finished Work of Christ, and finds shelter in the Crucified One. Though the Pestilence walketh in darkness, and sickness destroyeth at noon-day, thou needest not fear the approach of Evil, for thou art safely hid in the hollow of His hand; thou art covered with the wings of redeeming Love. (Psalm 91). And yet, O God, forgive me! I am fearing, fearing even a return of what I have recently passed through; fearing lest some fresh Evil should befall me. Do forgive me, dear Lord, and the Reader too, if he or she has such a misgiving heart, and cause us to feel all must be for the best if we are hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3)—safe in Jesus.

There is an expression which has arrested my attention, which is full of significance; it occurs in the new song that John heard sung in Heaven by the Saints ‘Thou hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood’ (Revelation 5:9; 14:2, 3). What learn we from this? Why, surely, that God is satisfied with the Covenant cost—redeemed by blood. Every attribute is quieted: ‘Mercy and Truth are met together; Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other’ (Psalm 85:10). This, to my mind, increases the value of the Redemption by Blood—it was shed as to God, and which secures for us His presence. Again, do we not also get at the thought of presentation? ‘Thou hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood’. ‘That He might present it to Himself, a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish’ (Ephesians 5:27).

But, beloved, our view of Calvary extends to the taking down of the precious body of our Lord from the cross. And they wrapped the body with the spices in fine linen, and laid it in a new sepulchre which Joseph of Arimathea had hewn out of a rock for himself. This sepulchre was in the garden near Mount Calvary, and, having deposited it there, they fastened the door by sealing it, and rolling against it a great stone. One smiles at their useless precautions; could they make Him who was the Mighty Conqueror a prisoner in the tomb? Verily not. He said, ‘the third day I will rise again’ (Matthew 17:23), and so He did. Samson broke down the gates and demolished the strongholds of his Enemies by his might and strength (Judges 16:3); how much more did our spiritual Samson break the strongholds of the tomb, and fulfilled the Prophecy concerning Him, ‘Thou wilt not leave My Soul in Hell; neither wilt Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see Corruption’ (Psalm 16:10).

What a remarkable expression that is concerning Christ that He was the ‘free among the dead’ (Psalm 88:5). What does it mean? I take it that He was free inasmuch as the sacrifice of Himself was His own act. He laid down His life for His Sheep. ‘No man’, says He, ‘taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have Power to lay it down, and I have Power to take it again. Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I may take it again’ (John 10:17, 18). So that He gave up the ghost, He dismissed His spirit, and was the ‘free among the dead’. So also was He ‘free among the dead’ to rise again at the appointed hour.

Look, too, at His desire as expressed in His last prayer of prayers to His Father, as He presents to the Eternal Father His own Gift—’And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as we are’ (John 17:11). And not merely this, but ‘Father, I will that they also, whom Thou has given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My Glory’ (v. 24). Do mark the presentation to the Father, and the gracious desires concerning His Redeemed. Oh! to think, my precious Lord, that I shall one day be with Thee! The very thought brings tears of Joy which will roll down the cheek. I shall be with Him! I know some say that no man can be assured of reaching Heaven. I give such the Lie. At this moment I am assured of it as that I live and breathe. Great presumption! Say others. Be it so. May the Lord increase such presumption, if you call it so. I know it to be Assurance of Faith. ‘It is the blood that maketh Atonement for the Soul.’

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