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1998-07-02 - War's End
The Cross Series, Part 46
Matt 27:45 Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon
all the land until the ninth hour.
Since long before the beginning of time, in eternity past, the members of
the Godhead have longed for this moment. The Father stands ready, the Holy
Spirit ministers strength to the wounded Jesus, and Jesus has checked off
one prophetic item after another until the list has grown very short.
Exactly what transpires during these three unique hours in history no one
can say with certainty. It is noon-time near the equator. There is no record
of an eclipse, and even a severe storm will allow some light to trickle through.
This darkness is unnatural, or supernatural. There is no record of human
activity during this time. It is as though the armies of the enemy converged
on this one place to try to exercise their power in their realm - the air.
Eph 2:1-2 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now
working in the sons of disobedience.
Every effort is bent against the Creator of the Universe. The original rebellion
comes to a head in this moment. If a final stand can not be made here, the
throne room of the highest heaven is lost to the fallen archangel forever.
Mark 15:34-37 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with
a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God,
My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" 35 And when some of the bystanders
heard it, they began saying, "Behold, He is calling for Elijah." 36 And
someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave
Him a drink, saying, "Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down."
It is now three o'clock, time for the evening sacrifice. The moment Jesus
has dreaded has arrived. He who had never known separation from the Father
now bears the sin of all mankind through all eternity. The perfect Father
Who can not tolerate sin in His presence must now turn His back on His Son.
So that we would know, Jesus shouts the question, "...why have You forsaken
me?"
It is ironic that, at the last moment, the mockers would become hopeful that
Jesus did have some connections. They misunderstand His cry and think Jesus
is calling Elijah. A place for Elijah is always ready at the Passover meal
which was just eaten. Jesus had taken Elijah's seat after Judas had left.
The crowd now expectantly awaits the Prophet's appearance.
John 19:28-30 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things
had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
said, "I am thirsty." 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there;
so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop, and brought
it up to His mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine,
He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head, and gave up His Spirit.
The sour wine that Jesus earlier refused is now requested. Every item He
came to accomplish from birth to death has been checked off save one. The
Master's tortured mouth and throat accept the relief offered by the drink,
clearing His throat and loosening His tongue. At the time the Shoffar, the
ram's horn trumpet, would have been sounded announcing the completion of
the afternoon sacrifice, Jesus shouts for all the world, "It is finished!"
His sacrifice on our behalf is completed.
The call is actually an accounting term that could be rendered, "Paid in
Full!" Our ledger of debts has been shifted to Jesus account, and our balance
has been rocketed from deep in debt to the profit of His riches in Glory.
The power of sin to keep mankind from coming to the Father has been shattered,
as have been our shackles to the Law which we could never keep. We must still
accept Jesus as Savior, His salvation and His life. But our slavery to sin
- which we were powerless against - holding us back from the Father is broken,
and we are free to come to Him.
Matt 27:51-53 And behold, the veil of the temple was torn
in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split,
52 and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had
fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after His
resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
A vivid picture of our liberty to come to the Father is rendered here. The
priceless temple veil, woven four inches thick and 60 feet high by the width
of the building, ripped wide open from top to bottom. The Father tore open
the barrier just as Jesus tore the barriers to the Father away for us. Before
that day, only the High Priest - and him only once a year at the risk of
his life, could enter the Holy of Holies. Now anyone may come before the
Father. Surely anyone can come to God asking for forgiveness and accepting
the free gift of salvation - no exceptions.
Luke 23:46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said,
"Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit." And having said this, He breathed
His last.
A great sorrow to Jesus' friends, He lays down His life. No one took life
from Jesus. He willingly released it. One verse says it better, "He dismissed
His spirit." The plan of the ages has been accomplished. Fellowship between
mankind and the Father has been restored. We, who were created for God's
pleasure, can once again walk with Him in the cool of the evening as Adam
did. The disobedience that was done in the Garden of Eden has been atoned,
even though at a terrible price: The precious blood of our Savior.
Isa 53:4-5 Surely our griefs He himself bore, and our
sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God,
and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell
upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.
The jeers and whips and fists were all meant for us, each one of us. If any
of us had tried to pay the price, even for just ourselves, we would have
found ourselves weighed in the balance and found wanting. Our Creator loved
us enough to fight the war of the ages for us. He could have rightly turned
His back on us and started over again. But He showed us His heart for us
and stood in the gap for us when we could not, and would not.
There are still pockets of resistance in each of us. These are reminders,
after images of the power of sin that once held us fast. There are those
who hide in the darkness, not wanting to believe the peace they are offered.
But the war is over, and if they will put down their pride, they will find
that peace is real. One way they can see that peace is in our lives and hearts.
Be a lighthouse and lead them home.
Lord Jesus, You have stood in our place and taken our deserved punishment.
And then, when the price had been paid in Your blood, You shared Your victory
with us. You have given us a down payment, a peace that passes the understanding
of this world, as a promise of more wonderful things to come. Give us the
courage and the heart to share that peace and victory with those around us.
Amen.
Grace & Peace,
Mike
jmhoskins@gmail.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org
http://www.peacewithgod.net
All verses are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.
CFD | July 1998
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