What was it about that cry?

"With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

The curtain of the temple was torn in two from the top to bottom. And when the centurion who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the son of God!" Mark 15:37-39

What was it about that cry? In Peter Marshall's famous sermon, "The Paradox of Salvation", he says:

"Suddenly Jesus opened His eyes and gave a loud cry.
The gladness in His voice startled all who heard it, for it sounded like a shout of victory:

'It is finished. Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit.'

And with that cry He died.

I wonder about that cry. Something about it reached into the heart of the most calloused man. The man responsible for Jesus' torture, humiliation, and execution. The man who put his stamp of approval on everything. The man who killed people for a living on an ongoing basis.

I have to wonder.

This centurion was used to seeing people die. He was a merciful man in his own eyes and offered every criminal drugged wine similar to anesthetic to take the edge off of the pain. However, Jesus, who should have been dead from the flogging, did not take any drug at any time. He was really super human in his ability to take pain.

And there was no cursing. Although the thieves on either side vomited profanity freely, Jesus was strangely quiet and docile in his pain. Jesus seemed more like a lamb who was gently following his master to be slain for the Passover feast, and not like the caged lion fighting to retain his kingly domain.

Why would such a man, with growing power and prestige, not negotiate with the popularity-hungry Pilate when he received a private audience? Did he not know that Pilate needed an edge with the people? And Jesus was much more popular than the Jewish leaders.

Did Jesus not know that all he had to do was become Pilate's personal physician or healer? Did Jesus not know that Pilate was wanting to negotiate and that Jesus could have gotten rid of the Sanhedrin once and for all if he was shrewd in his behind the scenes discussions with Pilate.

A king like this was not a person that the centurion could understand.

And when total failure should have broken this man's heart, the cry and the way he died was so surreal, so heavenly, that the centurion took note in awe that truly this man was God's Son.

Is it because Jesus took such torture? Or is it because he bore no malice towards the centurion. Is it because he offered forgiveness to his torturers while they were still stripping him bare and gambling for his clothing? Is it because he did not curse God and man? Is it because he did not work miracles to save himself although everyone knew he could?

Is it because of the peace and resignation to God's purpose that reflected in those liquid eyes as time oozed by like the blood dripping from His side?

I have to wonder if Jesus, who could see all things saw the angels in position over at the temple. Ready to tear the curtain that was as thick as a the thickest metropolitan phone book.

It was torn from top to bottom. From heaven to man an opening was to be made. These angels were ready to open up the very holy of holies itself to the common man who accepted His sacrifice. A place which previously, God would kill the priest who went in unprepared, God would allow anyone with His mark to enter.

And when he saw those angels in position, ready to erase the dividing line forever, Jesus knew that he was not entering defeat but victory and paradise and consummation of the very will of God and purpose for his life.

Jesus' cry though it may have been of anguish was also one of victory! It could have been a "yahoo" of sorts. A definitive claim that "I have done something amazing that will bring joy to those who were weeping." A declaration of joy and hope that reverberates through the ages.

You see, I can only think of it as a cry of anguish and pain because that is the human side of me. That is what I'd do, although I could not have born a millisecond of his torture. But Jesus Christ was fully human and fully God.

His cry made a difference. His cry was different. His cry was enough of a testimony to God's divine plan and Jesus' divine part that it converted the soul of the centurion who stood by.

What was it about that cry?

All I know is that when we enter into death our one appointed time, we also enter into victory for eternity. Though we are but a vapor we do not evaporate. There is a part of us that transcends the mortal and embarks on the immortal journey. The journey paved for us by a Savior that bore our punishment.

The pathway to this journey, was opened with a cry. The celestial ribbon cutting of the eternal pathway of reconciliation of God with his creation. What a great moment! The moment of redemption's victory!

Because it was finished, for you and I, life has only begun!

I cry with humility, gratitude, and hope. My Savior gave the battle cry of victory because He knew the magnitude of what He had done. I am still just comprehending it!

Tags: Jesus, cross, Christian, God, salvation

Are you following at a distance?

"They took Jesus to the high priest...Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire." Mark 14:53-54

What a short number of steps from following our Savior to walking with his enemies!

Just hours before Peter had been close to Jesus. Close enough to be invited to Jesus' final prayer vigil (which Peter slept through.) Close enough to hear his final turmoil as He faced the toughest day of his life.

Then, when Jesus was grabbed by a mob bearing sticks and soldiers bearing arms, Peter scattered with the others. We now see Peter again, following at a safe distance. Not wanting to be identified with Jesus and staying far enough away to be "safe."

Furthermore, to assuage suspicion, Peter took refuge from the cold cold night with the most harsh, burly, crude folk he could, the very soldiers who arrested Jesus. These would be the soldiers who, full of vice would strip him naked and plait a crown of thorns. They would spit on him and make Him the victim of coarse jesting as they made fun of his naked and bruised body. They would allow their worst torturer to flail him until the bones showed and his blood poured out like wine.

These were the men Peter was now with, as he kept his distance from the One who never left him.

But do not think Jesus did not know Peter's presence at all times. Luke, the historian records it like this.

As Peter was cursing and swearing in denial of his association with Jesus Christ the third time, the rooster crowed. Luke says in 22:61:

"The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter."

Peter did not hide from Jesus amidst the soldiers. While Jesus was undergoing his mock trial and public censure, Jesus was also undergoing betrayal of the worst kind. You see, Peter knew the things that they were saying were not true. If Peter was in "eye -shot" he was almost surely within "ear shot." They were calling for witnesses!

Here, Peter the bold witnessed Jesus' trial and he witnessed his own weakness and fear. For Peter did nothing. Peter knew the blasphemy about Jesus was not true.

Jesus bore witness to himself because every human friend and disciple did not! We see not one record of one person who spoke on Jesus' behalf.

We do not know how many followers of Christ were there, but we know of one very bold, strong, egotistical one that shrank in his moment of opportunity to boldly defend His Savior, Peter.

How about you? Do you follow at a distance? Do you hang out with the enemies of Christ in hopes that you aren't found out? Do you attempt to fit in with them so they will not know your "dirty little secret" and risk the penalty and stigma that comes with being a Christian? Do you promise great things and then shrink when the night gets too cold to take refuge in the warmth of Christ's enemy camp?

Later on, we see that Peter was forgiven, just as we are when we do this. We must pray and keep watch for "indeed the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak."

Today, I want to follow closely my Savior. I want to identify with him, defend him (though He doesn't need it), stand for him, and represent him well. God forbid I follow at distance as I have done too many times in my life.

"And He walks with me and He talks with me. And He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known!"

Tags: Jesus, Christ, God, hope

When God told Jesus "No!"

"Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 'Abba, Father,' he said, 'everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.' Mark 14:35,36

"'Have faith in God,' Jesus answered. 'I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.'" Mark 11:22-24

It is important to use Scripture to intepret Scripture.

This second verse (Mark 11) has been used through the ages to claim things that never came to pass. Accordingly, those involved would doubt their own faith or criticize the faith of others. Think about it. If every prayer prayed with faith was answered, no Christian would die. It is not time for death to die yet so therefore we must!

There is more in that verse. Jesus was talking about the withered fig tree in the second verse. Jesus had said in verse 14 of Mark 11, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again."

God is not a Holy Vending Machine for our whim.

We must remember that Jesus was God and was wholly in tune with God's will. We are not. We can therefore know that all that Jesus did on this earth, that he was in step with God's plan. Jesus was telling Peter about the power of faith and prayer. It would be assumed that the prayer was delivered was in God's will. But God's will is not what Jesus was discussing at the moment. One cannot look at these verses in Mark 11 and come away that God is a holy vending machine for every whim and fancy that is activated by the quarters of faith. That is overly simplistic and not what is intended, I think.

So, to interpret Scripture with Scripture we look at Jesus' prayer a few chapters later.

When God answered Jesus' prayer with a "No."

"Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 'Abba, Father,' he said, 'everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.' Mark 14:35,36

So, here we see the prayer of Jesus before going to the cross in Mark 14. This is the only prayer that I know of where Jesus asked something and God said, "No."

Jesus was literally asking that He not have to go to the cross. Jesus believed and had faith that it was possible for God to do things without the cross and asked God to "take this cup from me." Jesus ended the prayer telling God that He would submit to God's will.

Sometimes we pray and ask, and God says, "Yes" to our request. Sometimes we pray and ask and God says, "No."

The importance of the cross to me is that Jesus could have taken matters into his own hands.

Jesus could have "zapped" his accusers on trial.

He could have called angels and legions of heavenly soldiers.

He could have ascended to heaven and stomped his foot before the Father because He didn't get His way.

But He didn't.

Jesus was sinless. He was sinless because when God handed Jesus his cross, Jesus took it. He did not complain. God even turned his back on Jesus and Jesus cried out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" But Jesus did not forsake God.

That is why Jesus is our model.

This life is tough. It is not yet time for us to live into eternity and we are all in the process of dying. Ultimately we WILL all die.

Dying is something no one looks forward to and most naturally fear. Therefore, we end up in Gethsemane begging for God to "take this cup from us." We believe He can do it on our behalf or the behalf of a loved one.

And yet God has an appointed time for each Christian to die once, it is something that must happen.

So, when we faithfully seek God, believing in his ability, and God hands us a cross, we are to go forth like our Jesus.

Jesus did NOT get everything he wanted from God. He was indeed told "No." He was told NO in a powerful way and had to endure humiliation and harm beyond human comprehension. Jesus even had the ability to end the suffering himself but chose to take the path God had for Him. In all ways Jesus can identify with us.

The cross was terrible. But the hidden cross was the fact that Jesus chose it because it was God's will. Jesus didn't HAVE to go to the cross, He chose to follow God's will to the death. Jesus was truly tempted during his cross, knowing that every second He could circumvent the process and end it himself. But He didn't.

That is why He is our model. When God tells us no, we have a Savior who knows what it is like to have God say "No" to the desire of his heart (not to go to the cross.) When we suffer and wonder if God sees our terrible suffering, we have a Savior who suffered and had God turn his very back on him. Jesus accepted God's "No" without rejecting God's love and providence. He did not curse God!

When we see our loved ones suffer and ask why, we have a Savior who endured and ultimately asked God "why" without turning His back on God.

Jesus truly understands and knows.

Sometimes it is not our lack of faith that causes us to tread the thorny path, it is our faith that allows us to see the clearing ahead. The clearing will usher us into paradise and glory beyond our menial ability to understand it now.

Jesus died once just like I and you will die once. He shall never die again. We shall never die again if we accept His way to salvation, it is that simple.

Until that time, this world has terrible, awful things that happen. It is a world of crosses and pain. It is an unfair world. A world that fell with the apple and has since been full of the influence of the Snake that would love to see the failure of creation itself. This Snake decieves many into believing that a benevolent God could not coexist with such suffering and thus He must not exist, when in reality the suffering has been a direct result of the Snake himself.

The Bible is truth.
Many have relegated the Bible to allegory, legend, and myth. They are missing the point of the Bible. Those who faithfully inhale its words and accept the Truth have a Light that flips on to shine upon their souls that cannot be covered by the deepest darkness.

As a Christian, I can look forward with anticipation even when looking over the bedrail of a bed in a nursing home because I know that the best is truly yet to be.

Christianity is not the "opiate of the people" but the "God's chariot for the people." Just as God sent the chariot in the old testament to take his prophet home, Christianity is our chariot to heaven.

We cannot understand God's ways but He has given us insight in His Word. I rejoice for a Savior who truly understands and who has never left nor forsaken me. He helps me accept God's "No" and face death. Death is a doorway to eternity, not a terminal destination for me.

It is so important to share this with others. Today me be the last today we have to share with those we love.

Tags: Jesus, Christianity, cross, salvation, faith