[CS-FSLUG] TD: Easter Thought

[Ben Tanner]

Hey guys it being good friday, i figured it would be good to remind each
other of both the price paid and the assurance we have. In the shower
this morning i was thinking on this passage:-

22And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place
of a Skull). 23And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did
not take it. 24And they crucified him and divided his garments among
them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. 25And it
was the third hour when they crucified him. 26And the inscription of the
charge against him read, "The King of the Jews." 27And with him they
crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. 29And those
who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, "Aha! You who
would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30save yourself,
and come down from the cross!" 31So also the chief priests with the
scribes mocked him to one another, saying, "He saved others; he cannot
save himself. 32Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from
the cross that we may see and believe." Those who were crucified with
him also reviled him. 

 33And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole
land until the ninth hour. 34And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a
loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my
God, why have you forsaken me?" 35And some of the bystanders hearing it
said, "Behold, he is calling Elijah." 36And someone ran and filled a
sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink,
saying, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down."
37And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38And the curtain
of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39And when the
centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his
last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"

Just a few good friday thoughts to ponder (not all original):-

      * Firstly note they do not tear his clothes but cast lots for
        them, remember how the high preast tore his own clothes in Mk
        14:63? Yet preists were not to tear their cloths (Lev
        1:17,13:56). Even on the cross as he seemed in his weakest still
        is a perfect high priest.
      * Secondly note what was writen above his head as the people have
        rejected Jesus, as the scribes feel they have won, yet still in
        God's providence his title is displayed for the world to see
        (elsewhere we see it is in all the big languages of the day). A
        reminder that even as he looks weak and helpless - he is still
        the all powerful King.
      * Thirdly v29 even in their insults they testify to his
        resurection. Here we are reminded that the our King and our
        Priest is also the first born from among the dead.
      * Fourthly as the darkness fell (signifying Gods anger against
        Jesus - who became sin for us) we are reminded that Christ is
        our substitute. I deserve that anger, I deserve to be cut off
        from God, yet that sin, he took upon himself. The pain and
        humiliation of the cross is nothing but a dull reflection of
        what Jesus went though as he said the words in v34. 
      * Fifthly and finally al though there is so much more in this
        passage, THE CURTAIN IS TORN! The curtain that though out the OT
        signified the barrier to God has been removed, we can enjoy a
        relationship with God. this has massive implications - are you
        feeling far from God? The curtain has been torn - there is
        nothing between you if trust Jesus.  Therefore as the writer to
        the Hebrews puts it..."Therefore, brothers, since we have
        confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20by
        the new and living way that he opened for us through the
        curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21and since we have a great
        priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a true
        heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled
        clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure
        water. 23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without
        wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider
        how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25not
        neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but
        encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day
        drawing near."
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