"From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land."
(Matthew 27:45, NIV)
It was a day not unlike today here where we live, dark, cloudy, rain. On that day so long ago, "There was war in heaven," as John would later say in his Revelation, and there was war on the earth, principalities and power out to destroy the only One Who could save humanity. Satan's desire was to finish the war once for all. He did not realize, however, that all that was being "played out" that day was not in His control, "Therefore My Father loves me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes if from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father." A lot of bloodshed would have been avoided through the centuries if stupid people calling themselves "christian" would have realized this Truth. The Jews did not kill Jesus. The Roman Governor did not kill Jesus. My sin and your sin killed Jesus. When through the centuries stupidity killed Jews as "Christ killers," the Holy Spirit was telling the murderers, "You are the ones who took Jesus to the Cross."
As on this day so many centuries so long ago, when, "darkness came over all the land," darkness is still, "over all the land." But as 2 Cor. 3 tells us, "Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord [Jesus], the veil (darkness) is taken away." And never, ever forget: "It's Friday--------- but Sunday's coming!"
Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred Head
For such a worm as I?
Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thine--
And bathed in its own blood--
While the firm mark of wrath divine,
His Soul in anguish stood.
Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!
Well might the sun in darkness hide
and shut his glories in,
When Christ, the Mighty Maker died,
For man the creature's sin.
Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.
But drops of grief can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give my self away,
'Tis all that I can do.
At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day! (Isaac Watts, 1707)
(Matthew 27:45, NIV)
It was a day not unlike today here where we live, dark, cloudy, rain. On that day so long ago, "There was war in heaven," as John would later say in his Revelation, and there was war on the earth, principalities and power out to destroy the only One Who could save humanity. Satan's desire was to finish the war once for all. He did not realize, however, that all that was being "played out" that day was not in His control, "Therefore My Father loves me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes if from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father." A lot of bloodshed would have been avoided through the centuries if stupid people calling themselves "christian" would have realized this Truth. The Jews did not kill Jesus. The Roman Governor did not kill Jesus. My sin and your sin killed Jesus. When through the centuries stupidity killed Jews as "Christ killers," the Holy Spirit was telling the murderers, "You are the ones who took Jesus to the Cross."
As on this day so many centuries so long ago, when, "darkness came over all the land," darkness is still, "over all the land." But as 2 Cor. 3 tells us, "Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord [Jesus], the veil (darkness) is taken away." And never, ever forget: "It's Friday--------- but Sunday's coming!"
Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred Head
For such a worm as I?
Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thine--
And bathed in its own blood--
While the firm mark of wrath divine,
His Soul in anguish stood.
Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!
Well might the sun in darkness hide
and shut his glories in,
When Christ, the Mighty Maker died,
For man the creature's sin.
Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.
But drops of grief can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give my self away,
'Tis all that I can do.
At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day! (Isaac Watts, 1707)
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
