Matthew 27:45-56 Rejected By The Father

My commentary labeled this section "Rejected By The Father".  Once Jesus was affixed to the cross, darkness engulfed the land for three hours.  In Jewish history, there had been three days of darkness before the first Passover in Egypt, my commentary reminded us, so we can know that this darkness was similar -- not an eclipse or a sandstorm.

"After three hours, the darkness left.  Then Jesus cried, 'My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?' (Psalm 22:1).  It was during the time of darkness that Jesus had been made sin for us.  He had been forsaken by the Father!  That darkness was a symbol of the judgment that He endured when He was 'made a curse' for us ... How could a holy God look with favor on His Son who had become sin?" my commentary said.

At the moment of His death, "three miracles took place simultaneously:  The veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; an earthquake opened many graves; and some saints arose from the dead," my commentary continued.  "The torn veil indicates that He conquered sin; the earthquake (similar to what Moses experienced on Mount Sinai when the law was given) suggests that He conquered the law and fulfilled it; and the resurrections prove that He defeated death."

Father, I envision Your Son on that cross in that terrible darkness, taking on the weight of the sins of the world, mentally flashing through scenes of every filthy act of every human who'd ever lived or would ever live.  It pains me to think of the suffering He endured when my own sins were put on Him and He was judged for them.  What agony I was a part of producing!  Forgive me.  Thank You for Your sacrifice.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford