And Now He Was Dead

Thought For The Week 301 By Val Warsop

Grief-stricken disciples, dazed with shock, exhausted from emotional stress and lack of sleep, heartbroken and hurting, watched their beloved Friend and Mentor draw a final, shuddering breath as life left His battered body.  Too bemused [it seems] to recall His promise of resurrection, they must have been stunned by the horrific turn of events; the fast-tracked (illegal) trial, the appalling punishments, and the sight of their Master’s broken body.  Were they gazing in bewildered disbelief at the battered, bruised, bleeding, disfigured body of their compassionate, loving Leader? It had been a terrible day!  Since midday there had been hours of abnormal darkness, adding gloom and unease to the scene around the cross.  “All that He’d said, yet now He was dead, so this was the way it would end…”[1]!  Can we blame them for slinking away and hiding in a locked room?  It certainly looked like a major victory for the kingdom of darkness and an unprecedented defeat for the Kingdom of Heaven.

And yet…

What happened at Calvary was the fulfilment of centuries of promises and planning.  Yahweh had predetermined to send His beloved Son to pay the exorbitant ransom demanded for our redemption.  As Yahshua breathed His last, bearing no sin of His own but carrying the weight of that of the entire world, justice was supremely satisfied, and Yahweh was completely in control.  It was a magnificent victory!  Legally, Yahshua could not be held by death once justice was satisfied, and after three days Yahweh sent the Spirit of Resurrection to reenergise and empower Him, and restore Him back to His disciples.  But oh, what a difference! 

Now He has become our High Priest [Hebrews 6:20] on the basis of the power of an indestructible and endless life [Hebrews 7:16, Classic Amplified].  Today He is seated “at the right hand of (Yahweh) actually pleading as He intercedes for us” [Romans 8:34. Classic Amplified]!  An amazing, heart-stirring picture. Do you need prayer, support, compassion, an advocate?  He’s on your side, He’s in your corner, He’s got your back. Trust Him!

^{[1] Cited from: Then Came the Morning: Chris Christian and Bill & Gloria Gaither}

 

Photo by J E W E L M I T CH E L L on Unsplash

https://unsplash.com/photos/M6eh-MW9z94

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