“Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands! And with those words he breathed his last.” Luke 23:46
Place Number 8-Skull Hill (Golgotha) Jesus’ death
“By this time it was noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. Luke 23:44 “Then, at that time Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’Mark 15:34 “Jesus knew that everything was now finished, and to fulfill the Scriptures he said, “I am thirsty. A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. John 19:28-29 “When Jesus had tasted it, he said, ‘It is finished!’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” John 19:30
Around nine Jesus was placed on the cross and breathed His last breath around three o’clock. That is 6 hours-6 hours that Jesus hung on the cross bearing the sin of the world and separation from His Father.
Before all of that He was arrested, bound up, punched, spit on, mocked, laughed at, and flogged.
The moment when Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Why have You left me? Why have You abandoned me? (My paraphrase) Yet I know God's response, “Because You, my Son, have the sin of the world placed upon You and I cannot look at sin.” (Again my paraphrase)
For us it is the suffering Jesus faced that is unbelievable, for Jesus it was the separation from God that was unbearable. But my brethren Jesus Christ loved you and me so much that He suffered the unbearable separation and suffering so we could have everlasting life. Love-true love at that, is the ultimate expression of God’s loyalty, purity, and mercy extended toward His people through the death of His Son.
The very next day was the Sabbath (the Passover Sabbath at that) the Jewish leaders did not want Jesus and the other two still hanging there so they asked Pilate if they could hurry up their deaths by ordering for their legs to be broke. Thus allowing their bodies to be taken down. Pilate agreed, so the soldiers broke the legs of the two men, but when they go to Jesus, “They saw that he was dead already, so they didn’t break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out.” John19:34. This is where the most amazing love is; right here in the flowing of His blood. Let it flow over you my brothers and sisters and receive the gift of forgiveness. Jesus the perfect sacrifice, the perfect Lamb of God has just showered you with His love.
Jesus as I lift my eyes up to heaven, throw my head back, and stretch my arms out wide. I ask that You open the flood gates of heaven and let Your blood, mercy, and love pour down all over me. Jesus right now only You can feel and see all that my heart is feeling. The love, the thankfulness, the awe, the excitement, oh just every emotion of joy. Jesus what you have placed in my heart I can’t contain it. Amen
