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It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23:44-46
This was the One…the One who claimed to be the Savior of the World…and he died?
Recently, I was able to put myself there, with his mom, with the women. Watching the execution, the crucifixion of an innocent man, of God in the flesh! “Why can’t they see, why don’t they know, why is all of this happening?” The questions, the anguish they must have felt. Hope lost. Were they wrong? What it all just a pipe dream? Were they fools to believe?
The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. Luke 23:55-56.
What was left to do? They returned home in obedience and rested. The story ends there? No!
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words. Luke 24:1-8
Hope restored. It was not as they had planned. It was not how they imagined…the suffering…the crucifixion. But now it made sense, or did it? It makes sense to us because we see on the other side. I wonder, if I was one of those women watching my Savior be crucified, how I would have reacted. Would I have rose up in frustration, taken to social media and blasted the Romans for what they did to my Savior? Would I bash those against Jesus, name calling and personal attacks? Or would I have gone home and rested because it was the Sabbath?
Seven years I prayed for restoration of my marriage, that my husband would surrender to the Lord then be restored to our family. God did! And just over a year later, he was tragically killed on his motorcycle traveling to work.
“I voted for the man that I thought best held the values you teach Lord. I prayed and fasted that you would appoint the President that would best allow us to freely worship you and protect the unborn and he didn’t win.”
While I feel as though comparing the crucifixion of Christ, my husband death and the conceding of Donald Trump would be heresy and disrespectful, I found myself with similar emotions.
However, through the contemplation of all three scenarios, I am reminded of Isaiah 55:8-9
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
The women at the cross that day, watching the brutal execution by crucifixion of God must have been horrific but then “they remembered his words” (Luke 24:8)
I encourage you today… “remember his words” and “don’t lose heart”.
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. Galatians 6:9
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Lord, forgive us our sins, have mercy on this Nation…come Lord Jesus, come.