“The RoseBouquet”

For three hours in the middle of the day, a heavy darkness came over the land as Jesus was on the cross. Then He cried out that dreadful prayer, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” That was what the darkness was about.

Because all the sins of the world were on Jesus, God the Father turned away - He did not want to look at that sin. So Jesus tasted the terrible aloneness that comes with being disconnected from God for our sins.

I find it odd that after all these hours of suffering Jesus was still able to cry out with a loud voice. In verse 50, it says that He cried out with a loud voice again, and gave up His spirit. So His life was not just dribbled away, instead He willed to die, and died.

Immediately there were amazing effects; the great big, heavy, woven veil in the temple that protected the Holiest of holies from all but one priest, once a year, was torn - not from the bottom where people might reach it, but from the top, where only God could grab it and tear!

Secondly there was an earthquake and rocks split open. Tombs broke open and the bodies of holy, God-fearing people were raised to life, and wandered around the city, speaking to people.

The centurion and all those watching Jesus’ death got chills, and declared that is really, truly must be the Son of God. This super-natural death rivaled and superseded anything in their mythology of their gods’ adventures.

PRAYER: This is such an old story to me, Lord, that sometimes my mind glazes over, but today, in reading it a fresh in Your Word, I feel like I have afresh glimpse of how mighty You are, and that Your death on the cross was a very BIG deal! You suffered much for us, for me, but in the end You laid down Your life, it wasn’t snatched from You. You laid it down for my sins, and that set off fireworks of splitting rocks and resurrections from the dead! Truly, You are the Son of God!

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

P.S. God tells me I am His own - does He ever tell you that? You can find out how by reading my novel, Ruthe’s Secret Roses