A painting by Rembrandt - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

Christ suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.

He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement for our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed.
1 Peter 3:18; Isaiah 53:5.

A painting by Rembrandt
An art gallery in Munich exhibits a picture by the Dutch master Rembrandt. It shows Jesus being crucified. In this painting a man wearing a blue beret is helping to put up the cross on which Christ was nailed. The explanation of this anachronism: the man with the beret is the painter himself.

What did Rembrandt mean by this significant detail? He was not only an exceptional artist, but is believed to have been a fervent Christian. He sought to express a fundamental truth of Christianity: Jesus Christ was crucified because of our sins. Our wrongdoings, as it were, put Him on that cross. His death is the supreme proof of the love of God, who sacrificed His Son to expiate my sins and yours.

This essential aspect of the death of Jesus is the basis of all Christian living. Meditating on it, we are made humble. By ourselves we cannot cleanse our misdeeds. Neither our good works nor our resolutions will be sufficient. Jesus had to die. Considering this, we understand the gravity of our sins that necessitated the death of the Son of God. It makes us desire to keep ourselves pure practically. The Lord Jesus underwent everything because He loved us. He accomplished the work by which we are saved. And today He still loves us with that same intense, unchangeable love.

Today's reading: The Song of Solomon 3:1-11 · Mark 8:14-26