Saturday, March 21, 2015
Mt 27:50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
ABIDE WITH ME, FAST FALLS THE EVENTIDE
THE DARKNESS DEEPENS; LORD, WITH ME ABIDE.
WHEN OTHER HELPERS, FAIL AND COMFORTS FLEE,
HELP OF THE HELPLESS, OH, ABIDE WITH ME!
It had been thirty-three years since the night-time sky over Bethlehem had been turned into daytime, as the glory of the Lord shone around the shepherds. And it had been three hours now since that was reversed, and night-time fell at noon.
When Christ was born, God came to be with us, Immanuel. But at the end of those three hours of darkness, Jesus cried out "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"
Three hours of eerie darkness! I wonder if anyone was reminded of the prophet Joel, who so many years before had spoken of the sun being turned to darkness before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. What a day! It has been said that if you want to know what will happen on Judgment Day, just look at Calvary: Sin condemned; sin punished; an intercessor speaking up for sinners: Father, forgive them. As John reminds us: "We have one who speaks to the Father in our defense -- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:1-2).
So in the midst of thick darkness, the cross still stands, like an arrow pointing to heaven, and when "it is finished...."
Heaven's morning breaks,
and earth's empty shadows flee
In life and death, the Lord abides with you ... and me!
