And so, Jesus was crucified.
He suffered and took on God's wrath which should have been all mankind's punishment for sin. On the cross Jesus asked God His Father to forgive those responsible for His death. Although those were ostensibly the Sanhedrin religious leaders, Pilate, the Roman soldiers and the Jewish throngs, one must point the finger at oneself as well. Jesus said we all did not know what we were doing. His compassionate forgiveness didn't fail and still is in operation to this day.
Merciful Savior, Jesus, Lord, thank-You.
From 9AM to 12 noon on that fateful Friday, Jesus hung up there on the cross for one and all to see in the broad daylight. It was obvious that that Man in the middle was Jesus.
Many people saw Him. Many mocked and insulted Him. There could be no mistake as to Who He was. He was Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.
Some people, I've heard, claim that it was not Jesus nailed to the cross that day. They say it was some substitute; perhaps Judas Iscariot or some other scapegoat. Scripture is clear that it was indeed Jesus who was up there enduring the pain and the shame for us.
Then...DARKNESS.
From 12 noon to 3pm there was dark, dark darkness.
WHY?
During those three hours of darkness that had followed on the heels of the three broad daylight hours, was the time when Jesus was at His lowest point of weakness. Fever. Thirst. Physical pain. Emotional and spiritual suffering. Additionally, and most significantly, Jesus was separated from God His Father. This was worst than all the other affliction put together. In fact, Jesus cried out,
"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabacthani?"
That translates as,
"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
Again, why the darkness?
This darkness was a miracle. Total darkness at what was supposed to be the brightest time of day; NOON! No one could see through it. This is actually impossible unless God was involved; which He was. I believe He was! It was not an eclipse of the sun either, as some detractors want to make you believe.
Jesus, the LIGHT of the world, took our punishment for us. Our sins heaped upon Him. Separated from his Heavenly Father God, because of it. THUS the darkness of those hours.
Jesus, Light of the world, came out of the darkness to shine on us. Our mighty Maker, died for man's sin. He was obedient unto death.
Then, something astonishing happened...
The curtain in the Temple that was between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies); that place that only the High Priest could enter and that only once a year and that NOT without blood of animals in each hand: some for his own sins and the other for all the other people of the nation of Israel, that curtain, was torn from top to bottom!
Phenomenal!
This terrified them all!
Indeed, to think of it makes me shiver and shutter in fear. Yet, I do know better...now.
God was doing something very pivotal. No longer do we need all those animal sacrifices. I'm actually still tryin to get my head around that! After all my upbringing, being taught God's ways and those that had been for thousands of years since God told Moses and Moses told us, the people of Israel.
Now, Jesus was the sacrifice. He was our Lamb of God; our substitute. I do get it but its all so profound.
Jesus was the Sacrifice for all sin, for all time, for all peoples of the earth, for all time and eternity on behalf of Jews and Gentiles alike; whether we like it or not. His presence would no longer dwell in a Temple made by hands, no matter how magnificent. He would now dwell through his Holy Spirit in believers -- a temple built by HIS hands. In believers in Jesus, through His salvation, that is.
The tearing of the curtain symbolized that Jesus' death had taken away the barrier of sin that had prevented mankind from coming directly into God's presence. Now we can freely come into His presence because of Jesus' death on the cross for us. We no longer need a priest, nor High Priest to offer up our sacrifices on our behalf. Praise God, we can go to Him whenever, wherever, in the Name of Jesus.
I love Jesus' last words which He uttered on the cross. He said,
"Father! Into Your hands I commit My Spirit."
This portrays the truth and trust Jesus the Son had in God, His Father. He had finished the work He was sent to do. That is what this reveals. Now He could commit His life back into God's hands -- work finished.*
In His life He had submitted himself to carrying out God's purposes and now similarly in His death, He continued to submit Himself to God.
The death of Jesus on the cross was the completion of God's plans in sending Jesus to die for the sin of all mankind.
This was fulfillment of God's purpose to save the world from their sin. By His death on the cross, He took all the sin of the world, God's judgment upon Himself so now those who would believe in Him will not die for their sins but will have eternal life and can now enter freely into God's presence.
Isn't that Good News!?
I've mentioned some of the people milling about, around the cross where Jesus hung. There's one particular Roman, the Centurion. He was likely overseeing the three crucifixions. This Gentile, so despised by us Jews, acknowledged what most of us Jews could or would NOT. He said Jesus must certainly have been a righteous man and God's hand was in this happening.
Don't you just love this Roman soldier man?
Perhaps we will see him in Heaven some day.
What about the watching people? Five days earlier they had been so welcoming of Jesus into Jerusalem. They joyfully shouted, "Hosanna!" and "Son of David". Such gladness and rejoicing. Then on this Friday, early morning, their shouts turned ugly. "Crucify Him!" they raged. Their look at the cross was then so different as they observed the consequences of those angry shouts.
They beat their own breasts and went away. They had had time to think of their actions. Hopefully they had turned away, gone home to truly repent.
Now it came down to us. The group of watching people standing vigil, yet at a distance from Jesus. We are the ones who "knew" Him. The apostles, other disciples, myself; some of the other women, who had followed Jesus up from Galilee. We were His "friends". Quite an assortment. We were so sad and perplexed.
Can you tell?
We were so devastated. The One we loved and who had cared so much for us, died such a horrible death. This little band of followers just did not know how to respond to His death. So we watched to see what would happen.
Some of the women kept tabs on Jesus, especially once He had given up His Spirit.
Enter now, two men who we were astounded to see in action in favor of Jesus. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemas (John 19:39). Unbeknownst to us at the time, they had been secret disciples of Jesus. Now they dared to show themselves and went and asked Pilate for Jesus' body. It was really amazing and heart warming.
It had been about 3pm when Jesus had given up His Spirit; the darkness left and the curtain in the Temple had been torn.
Pilate, surprised that Jesus had gone already, double-checked with his men if it were true. Once it was confirmed, he allowed Joseph of Arimathea to take Jesus' body down.
Joseph and Nicodemas embalmed Jesus' body and carefully wrapped Him in strips of linen grave clothes. Then they buried Him in Joseph of Arimathea's very own new tomb that had been hewn out of a rock. All this according to Jewish custom.
By the time all this had been accomplished it was nearly 6pm. The end of a Jewish day and the beginning of the next was upon us.
The next day was our Sabbath when no work was allowed to be done, according to the Scriptures and the Law of God handed to Moses and thence to the Israelites.
The Sabbath was about to begin but the Friday events, -- phew -- what a LONG day -- were not quite finished.
As I said, caring, devoted women had been on the watch to see what would become of Jesus' body. They had followed and see where Joseph and Nicodemas had laid Him. Even though these caring men had done the necessary, the women, out of last respects, love and care, despite the disappointment of His death had wanted to prepare spices and perfumes for Jesus body too.
Quickly then, they bought what they needed, scurried home to prepare them and to rest; just in the nick of time.
The Sabbath had begun.
What have I learned from these dedicated women? In their disappointment and devastation, they still had it in their hearts to serve Jesus. When life gets tough for us and doesn't go the way we'd like it to go, in our sorrow, will we still serve Him the best way we know how even with streams of tearing flowing down our cheeks?
All had gone home now.
The tomb was quiet.
Jesus, His work on the cross complete, rested from His work.
Let us be quiet now.
Ponder what this would have been like. All the feelings and emotions swirling.
Rest...
~ERC November 2020~
Based on Luke 23:42-49 and 50-56 NIV
Also based on SPM Luke Study Guide*
Sing, Jesus, That Name is Love, Jesus Our Lord
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