The Death of Jesus, Luke 23
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.”[e] 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. 49But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
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It’s GOOD FRIDAY. I want to hurry on to Sunday, but I am compelled to reflect on the incomprehensible significance of this day of remembrance. I am soberly reminded of where I would be without Jesus’ death on the cross. As quickly as I am saddened, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. As sure as I shed a tear from the heaviness of it all, I shed a tear of joy for what He did for me and for everyone in the whole world.
Colossians 2:13-14 “When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgression, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”
The part of the Luke passage at the very top that catches my attention in particular this day is “for the sun stopped shining.” He has been such Light to my life in recent days/months that I imagine those minutes and hours of darkness must have been too much to take in for those who walked with The Light of the World.
John 1:4 “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.”
John 8:12 “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follow Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.'”
John 12:35-36 “So Jesus said to them, ‘For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walk in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.'”
The darkness of Jesus’ death makes the Light He is in my life that much more amazing and cherished.
When we were going through our difficult months of waiting and wondering and seeking God on His will for our lives, He led me to Isaiah 30. I read through verse 26 many, many times. Verse 26 says, “The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven days, on the day the Lord binds up the fracture of His people and heals the bruise He has inflicted.” I told the Lord that I really was excited for the day when we had that kind of clarity and “light” on our situation. I believe He gave us some clarity in very practical ways, but I also think He is telling me that HE IS THE LIGHT that shines and brings clarity to our lives. So instead of waiting for that certain something that kind of screams, “This is why all of that happened and this is what I want you to do for the rest of your life…..,” I hope and pray I will continue to cling to The True Light, Jesus Himself. I have so enjoyed the words to this song over the past month or so. It’s a great one!
CONSTANT (passion “Here For You”)
Just like the sunshine you have been our light
Leading us into beautiful places
We’ve walked through fire but you made us brighter
Leading us into beautiful places
Faithful Jesus, healing savior
Compass, center, bread of life
Faithful Jesus, cherished treasure
Our portion, wisdom God’s great light
Just like the starlight you shine in the black night
Leading us into beautiful places
Just like the atmosphere you’ve come to surround us here
Leading us into beautiful places
Faithful Jesus, healing savior
Compass, center, bread of life
Faithful Jesus, cherished treasure
Our portion, wisdom God’s great light
God you are here with us constantly here with us
You are our everything faithful and true
I am thankful for the beautiful places the Lord has allowed me to walk. I wouldn’t be able to say that without Him first enduring the horrible cross for my sins. I pray He will be my constant Light– no matter the darkness around me.