13 July | Youth
«I have trodden the winepress alone, […] their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, and I have stained all My robes.» Isaiah 63:3
In the past, each vineyard had its own wine press, a type of cistern made in rock, with approximate dimensions of 2.4 meters long and 1.5 wide. There, the workers treaded the grapes; a hard and tiring work, alleviated by the songs sung by the workers themselves. The metaphor of the winepress serves well to illustrate the suffering of the Messiah in His final hours.
What do you feel when you contemplate Jesus, the Creator of the universe, who had royal clothes that no human designer could ever imagine, then wearing clothes spattered with His own blood? This infinite love should constantly occupy our thoughts, as Ellen White emphasized: “It would be well to spend a thoughtful hour each day reviewing the life of Christ from the manger to Calvary” (Testimonies for the Church, v. 4, p. 374).
Although He was surrounded by people, Jesus spent His final hours alone. In Gethsemane, instead of receiving comfort and sympathy from the disciples, He saw them “sleeping from sorrow” (Luke 22:45). There the Savior of humanity suffered terrible temptations from Satan, in addition to tasting God's wrath against humanity's sin. The result of such pain was sweating drops of blood that splashed on His clothes.
Alone in the Gethsemane. Alone before Annas and Caiaphas. Alone before Herod. Alone when judged by Pilate. Alone on the cross. Alone. “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt 27:46) was His solitary cry on the cross. But He had to “tread the winepress” alone. He had to experience the depth of the abyss caused by sin. This was His “strange” way of saving: One bearing the guilt of all (Rom 5:18).
Christ faced so much suffering and loneliness so that no one in this world would need to perish. If you are alone today, fighting against countless difficulties, look to Jesus. He can help you. He knows how to overcome sadness, loneliness and anguish of the soul. Cast your burdens at the feet of Christ right now. You will find rest and the best company in the universe!