"I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow Me" (Psalm 69:2).

"Thou hast laid Me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. Thy wrath lieth hard on Me, and Thou hast afflicted Me with all Thy waves" (Psalm 88:6,7).

These two passages are prophetic utterances of the Lord through the Psalmist. Long before He came into the world, the Son of God had ever before Him the flood of judgment against sin which he was to suffer in order to save lost, ruined, sinful man whom He loved.

When the fulness of the time had come, as decreed in the divine eternal counsels, He came into the world His hands had made. He was "that Holy Thing" born of the virgin Mary."A body hast Thou prepared for Me" (Hebrews 10:5), He said to the Father. He, the Eternal Word, "became flesh and dwelt amongst us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

For thirty-three years He walked on earth displaying His Holy Being—perfect God and perfect Man in one unique divine Person. He was "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners" (Hebrews 7:26). When the Lord Jesus came forth to begin His public ministry, John the Baptist exclaimed: "Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). He set His face as a flint to the time appointed when He, who knew no sin, was to be made sin and engulfed in the flood of God's wrath against sin on the Cross of Calvary.

On the Cross He did indeed "sink in deep mire." All the cruelty and indignities from the hands of wicked men He came to save were heaped upon Him. The deep waters of affliction poured over Him, but He despised the shame involved and cried, "Father, forgive them, for they know not whay they do."

But at noon, darkness fell over all the land. For three hours God forsook His Son. All the waves of His wrath were poured out upon the Lord Jesus, and another prophecy was fulfilled: "All Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over Me" (Psalm 42:7). The depths of His suffering for sins, the Just for us the unjust, are hidden from our view. But from His innermost being we hear that heart-rending cry: "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" The fierce billows rolled over Him, and all of God's righteous wrath was exhausted upon Him. When the calm broke, in triumph the Lord Jesus cried, "It is finished!" Deliberately He then bowed His head and died for our sins according to the Scriptures.

"Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it" (Song of Solomon 8:7) was proven in His triumph at Calvary. Love brought Him here. Love took Him to the Cross. Love led Him into the floods of God's wrath which we deserved. Love bore ALL the judgment. Love gave Himself in death. Love raised Him from the dead to be the Victor over death and judgment. Love could not be quenched nor drowned! Instead, His love continues now and forever. And in His love is found an eternal deliverance soon to be fully realized in the sweet calm of the Harbor of Heaven by all who put their trust in Him now, in this day of His grace.

"He sitteth o'er the water-floods,
   As in the days of old,
When o'er the Saviour's sinless head
   The waves and billows rolled!
Yes, all the billows passed o'er Him!
   Our sins—they bore Him down!
For us He met the crushing storm—
   He met the Almighty's frown!

He sitteth o'er the water-floods!
   Then doubt and fear no more,
For He who passed thro' all the storms
   Has reached the heavenly shore;
And every tempest-driven bark,
   With Jesus for its Guide,
Will soon be moored in harbor calm,
   In Glory to abide.

—Henry Bennet