The Death of Jesus

Adapted from a devotion published in 1996.

Intense, anguished prayer...."Not my will, Father, but yours".... "Are you the Messiah?".... Shouts, accusations from every direction, taunts..."Let's see a miracle, Son of God!".... "This man is innocent, I will release him".... "No! No! Crucify! Crucify! We have no king but Caesar!"...."I wash my hands of his blood, let it be on your heads".... The robe, the thorns piercing his flesh, the terrible agony of metal grinding through bone, being driven through flesh.... A stranger carrying his cross.... "Don't weep for me".... "Father, forgive them".... "Save yourself, if you are the Christ! Come on, you worthless piece of scum, call for your angels! Come, Oh high and mighty King -- save yourself!! He's quite clever at 'saving' others, but he can't save himself! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!".... "Hey, let's cast lots for these clothes, they'll bring a good price down in the temple market".... "Hey there, Messiah! Come down from that cross and we'll believe you!".... "Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom".... "Today, you will be with me in paradise!".... A darkness deeper than any night fell upon that site. The air became oppressive, stagnant. And as it fell, the people became quiet, the taunting died away, even as evil rejoiced. For 3 hours, the darkness smothered the land. The only sounds were the agonized breathing of the dying. Suddenly, there was a loud cry from the mouth of God, shattering the eerie silence and shattering the hearts of those who heard it. "It is finished." The
veil was torn in two. A spear thrust into His side brings forth a flow of blood and water.

The Son is dead.

It had to be done. It was the only way. Jesus died. He died so that we might live. We can never understand the joy of the Resurrection if we fail to understand the Death. In three days, the Victory was made known. But you cannot appreciate the Victory if you don't experience defeat.

"Now I have given up everything else -- I have found it to be the only way to really know Christ and to experience the mighty power that brought him back to life again, and to find out what it means to suffer and die with him. So whatever it takes, I will be one who lives in the fresh newness of life of those who are alive from the dead." (Philippians 3:10-11, LB)

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins ..." (Ephesians 1:7, NIV)

"... and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:7, NIV)

"Those who belong to Christ have nailed their natural evil desires to his cross and crucified them there." (Galatians 5:24, LB).

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me;" (Galatians 2:20, RSV)

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Originally published 05 April 1996. Encounters! Ministry, Copyright © James A. Chase