"Brief Devotions For Busy Lives" by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson: Luke 44-47

 April 14

"It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, and said, "Certainly this man was innocent!" -Luke 44-47 (RSV)

How could a loving God ever allow his son Jesus to die in such a horrible way, we may wonder? Yet Jesus' life was not a play passively followed but freely chosen. As he said, "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I have received from my Father."(Jn. 10:18) He did not avoid death and suffering because of higher purposes. His knew his sacrifice was part of God's plan for salvation of the world. No one could kill Jesus without his consent. He submitted to this hideous death for our salvation, forgiveness, and liberation from sin and death.

However, the sin-bearing work of Christ at Golgotha cannot be comprehended apart from understanding this passage in Luke when darkness covered the earth for three hours in the middle of the day. All Creation seemed to grieve over the horrible tragedy of Jesus' death and suffering. Yet this event proclaimed, revealed, and symbolized the real meaning of Christ's work on the cross. The Jewish Temple in Jerusalem had three parts: the court for all; the Holy Place only priests could enter; and the Most Holy Place where only the high priest could enter once yearly to atone for the sins of the people by offering a Passover lamb. At Christ's death, the barrier between God and humanity was split in two as God offered up his son Jesus as the Passover lamb. Animal sacrifice is no longer needed for atonement for our sins. Now we can approach God directly through Christ because of his sacrifice on the cross to atone for our sins and those of all humanity.

Prayer: Jesus, Thank you for your sacrifice. Amen.

Meditation For The Day: Christ died so I can live.

Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring Renewal Paperback – February 21, 2017, by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson (Author)