Saturday, April 16, 2022

Getting to Know Jesus' Passion #16

We left off yesterday on what we call Good Friday, in Luke 23, with Christ on the Cross: Today we find:
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandmen
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When Jesus died, a whole not was said: Not so much in words, but more so in actions. First, God spoke with action: deep darkness during the day meant something is very wrong here, when His sinless son died; then the torn curtain into His presence broke that barrier sin had built up. The centurion who presided over the crucifixion said: this is not right. The who witnessed His death beat their breasts with a sound showing it was unjust. But... by sharp contrast His faithful followers hung in there following Jesus' body to the tomb. They were faithful to the end, with plans not to give up even then. May we hear what God is saying. May we listen to the testimony of the professional. May we watch and learn from the faithful women who loved and trusted Jesus. 

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