Perspectives

Matthew 27:45-46 45) From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46) About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) (NIV)

You and I cannot forget the Easter season. We cannot forget how Jesus challenged His people when He approached Jerusalem. He knew that He was about to be crucified, but the love He had for us, and the lost citizens of the whole world, He could not hide. The depths of Christ’s love so wanted to draw together all humankind to the cross; but most say, “No! We do not want you.”

Somehow, you and I can feel the pain in Christ’s heart. The extreme anxiety, the rejection, the hurt; but also, the patience of God is there; after all, people in His day and today, still reject Christ and most of the messengers that God has sent. But we can also see the love of God and the patience of God. He did not give up. He did not throw them off like a dirty piece of cloth. His love is immeasurable, unlimited as He puts up with our sins, and our rejection of His invitation.

Did you know that Jesus cannot force us to accept His message of salvation? That decision rests with you and me; we must make that choice. Sometimes I think that it is an awful responsibility, we can either accept or reject Christ’s invitation. Christ will not force His way into our heart; His only weapon, if you want to call it that, is His outstretched arms as He pleads with us to come to the Cross.

One more thought that just popped into my mind; is the development, the work in progress that is behind sin. We look on Jesus in all His passion, in all His splendor and then we go ahead and refuse His invitation. Yes! The sad part is that our heart has no handle on the outside. We must open it from the inside. That means sin is a deliberate rejection of Christ’s invitation if we refuse to open the door to our heart.

How about if we pause for just a moment and read our Scripture Text? Ask yourselves these questions. Can we penetrate Jesus’ thoughts here and gain access to His inner being? Can we feel the anguish of His heart, His passion as His soul is laid bare for us? Is it possible for you and me to understand fully or comprehend Jesus’ heart and mind as He hung on the cross, as he became the sacrifice for the sins of the entire world, hanging between heaven and earth? He became the stairwell coming down from God in heaven to our heart so that we might be saved. But as Christ was hanging their God forsook Him for a moment. Why would God do that?

The reason was that as Jesus was hanging on the cross, during those awful three hours, and as the darkness became impenetrable… He took all our sins. Jesus gave His own soul as an offering for all our sins and God the Father was pleased with that sacrifice. Christ was suffering! He cried like a wounded helpless person, maybe it did not even sound like a human cry, but like nothing, you or I could imagine as our sins were pushed down on Him.

Then that awful mob and spectators increase His suffering, by laughing, shouting, and shaking of heads… “He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver Him, now let God deliver Him if He is the Christ,” they shouted. Then the Pharisees sat down and watched the Lord Jesus Christ die.

One must really be spiritually dead to do that! I do not think a person can get any lower than that! But what did Jesus do… Luke 23:34: Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Christ asked forgiveness for their sin. And a centurion who oversaw the execution was saved.

Is it possible that we cannot totally understand all that happened between God and Jesus that day? I know that is true in my case. But my heart still overflows with praise when I think of the amazing grace that Jesus should end His life on the Cross, with a prayer that God should forgive “US” because we did not know what we were doing—that is amazing grace. We were lost and spiritually blind, but He taught our hearts to hear His still small voice, and He encouraged us that we would heed that voice, so He could enter our hearts and lead us through all our trials and struggles.

Amazing! Truly amazing! Me a sinner; that he would forgive a sinner such as me! No wonder our hearts cry out… “To God Be the Glory Great Things He has done!”

Would you pray this prayer with me…? “Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I want my life to change. My thoughts and my attitude need to change. I do not have peace in my heart. I really want that peace, joy, and happiness that I long for. Please let the Holy Spirit help me be the kind of Christian that will bring honour to Your Name.” Amen