Jesus Devotional - Day 22
Day Twenty-Two
Jesus: Real, Relevant, and Radical!
Who turned off the Light?
Luke 23:44-45b(NLT) By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 45 The light from the sun was gone.
Matthew 27:45(NLT) Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land.
Mark 15:33(NLT) At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock.
1 Peter 1:10-12(NKJV) Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.
Light! What a gift. What a beautiful sight it is to see the birth of a new day as the sun rises over the horizon—daylight, sunshine, a new day full of opportunities and possibilities. As a young boy, I would spend a lot of time on my grandparents’ farm. If you know anything about farm life, you'd know that on a farm, you wake up early before the sun ever has a chance to say, “Hello.” We’d get busy with milking cows and letting animals out to pasture. Then we’d go back up to the house for a quick breakfast and continue the day. If we lingered too long, my grandpa would say, “C’mon boys, we are burning daylight. Let’s get out there.” Because the day is when you work.
Jesus has been on the cross for three hours. Mark tells us that Jesus was crucified at 9:00 AM. He spoke to the criminal on the cross beside Him, and to Mary and John. Then, at noon, something incredible happens: darkness falls on the earth. We have no insight from any gospel writers as to why this occurs, but we know that it did. This was not simply an eclipse that could be explained naturally. Luke simply states, “The light from the sun was gone.” After all the mocking, taunting, and abuse, suddenly, darkness. We can only assume that this darkness brings an eerie stillness. All the verbal abuse has ceased. No one is uttering a word, and in this stillness, the Son of Man hangs on the cross. It seems like no one is permitted to see what is happening now. The collective noise—from the whirlwind arrest, to the kangaroo court appearances, to the deafening screams of “crucify Him”—is suddenly and utterly silenced. Someone turned the lights off on planet earth. In the middle of the day, when the sun should be shining brightest, darkness falls. What are we to make of this moment? The power and mystery of the cross of Christ are so sacred that it’s easy to be overwhelmed by it. The cross is both brutal and beautiful. It is shocking and compelling. It is filled with sorrow and joy. It is filled with darkness and light. Could this be what Amos saw? Amos 8:9 (ESV) “‘And on that day,’ declares the Lord God, ‘I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.’”
Has the Father now veiled what the Son is experiencing? Is it covered in darkness because neither man nor angels could comprehend the suffering? Is this the moment the perfect, spotless Lamb takes on Himself the sin of the world? By doing so, the Father is pouring out what sin warrants: judgment. Isaiah 53:10-11(NKJV) “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. 11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.”
For three hours, there is complete darkness. In the Book of Exodus, a very similar experience occurs before Israel is released from bondage. The last judgment on the land of Egypt, right before the death of the firstborn, is three days of darkness. Exodus 10:22-23 (NLT) “So Moses lifted his hand to the sky, and a deep darkness covered the entire land of Egypt for three days. 23 During all that time the people could not see each other, and no one moved. But there was light as usual where the people of Israel lived.”
At the cross and beyond, no one is scurrying around doing business as usual. No one can work. No one can worship. No one can offer a Passover lamb until Christ’s work is complete. Jesus, our Passover Lamb, is offering Himself as the sin offering for us so that we can be freed from the bondage of sin. The Father turns off the light and places on Him the sin of the world. A sacred exchange, whereby Jesus gives His life and bears the penalty for our sin. That is only possible because of His sinless sacrifice. What wonder! What awe! Jesus makes this statement in John 8:12(NLT) “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.’”
The Pharisees freak out because they argue Jesus has no witnesses to support His claim so, therefore, His claim is invalid. Jesus responds that His claim is valid because He (Jesus) is one witness, and the Father is the other witness. Then later on Jesus makes this statement: 28 “So Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I am he.’” Now at the cross, Jesus is lifted up just as He said, and everyone witnesses the Son of Man on the cross. But now in the veil of darkness, only the Father and the Son are able to witness what is taking place. It is no wonder that the psalmist, looking forward to that day, would proclaim: “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. 23 This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see. 24 This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Thank God for His incredible sacrifice. We no longer have to walk in darkness. Jesus, the Light of the world, has become the Life of our world. John 1:4-5(NIV) “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’”
The only thing we will have without the Son is darkness. But thank God we don’t have to grapple in darkness or cower in fear because Jesus stepped into the darkness, and the darkness could not overcome Him. If today you feel surrounded by darkness or the weight of life pressing down on you, I have good news. Malachi 4:2 (NLT) “But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.”
The Father has made His Son sin for us so that the light of His Son will be the Sun of Righteousness in our lives. So do a little dance, take a joyful leap, and let the “Son” shine in!
Prayer:
•Thank God for Jesus and the price He paid for us.
•Seek the Lord's help to walk in the power of Jesus' Life.
•Pray for those who are still trapped in the darkness of their sin.
•Pray that you will be salt and light to others, and that your life will create a thirst for Jesus in them and provide guidance to the lost.
Jesus: Real, Relevant, and Radical!
Who turned off the Light?
Luke 23:44-45b(NLT) By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 45 The light from the sun was gone.
Matthew 27:45(NLT) Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land.
Mark 15:33(NLT) At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock.
1 Peter 1:10-12(NKJV) Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.
Light! What a gift. What a beautiful sight it is to see the birth of a new day as the sun rises over the horizon—daylight, sunshine, a new day full of opportunities and possibilities. As a young boy, I would spend a lot of time on my grandparents’ farm. If you know anything about farm life, you'd know that on a farm, you wake up early before the sun ever has a chance to say, “Hello.” We’d get busy with milking cows and letting animals out to pasture. Then we’d go back up to the house for a quick breakfast and continue the day. If we lingered too long, my grandpa would say, “C’mon boys, we are burning daylight. Let’s get out there.” Because the day is when you work.
Jesus has been on the cross for three hours. Mark tells us that Jesus was crucified at 9:00 AM. He spoke to the criminal on the cross beside Him, and to Mary and John. Then, at noon, something incredible happens: darkness falls on the earth. We have no insight from any gospel writers as to why this occurs, but we know that it did. This was not simply an eclipse that could be explained naturally. Luke simply states, “The light from the sun was gone.” After all the mocking, taunting, and abuse, suddenly, darkness. We can only assume that this darkness brings an eerie stillness. All the verbal abuse has ceased. No one is uttering a word, and in this stillness, the Son of Man hangs on the cross. It seems like no one is permitted to see what is happening now. The collective noise—from the whirlwind arrest, to the kangaroo court appearances, to the deafening screams of “crucify Him”—is suddenly and utterly silenced. Someone turned the lights off on planet earth. In the middle of the day, when the sun should be shining brightest, darkness falls. What are we to make of this moment? The power and mystery of the cross of Christ are so sacred that it’s easy to be overwhelmed by it. The cross is both brutal and beautiful. It is shocking and compelling. It is filled with sorrow and joy. It is filled with darkness and light. Could this be what Amos saw? Amos 8:9 (ESV) “‘And on that day,’ declares the Lord God, ‘I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.’”
Has the Father now veiled what the Son is experiencing? Is it covered in darkness because neither man nor angels could comprehend the suffering? Is this the moment the perfect, spotless Lamb takes on Himself the sin of the world? By doing so, the Father is pouring out what sin warrants: judgment. Isaiah 53:10-11(NKJV) “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. 11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.”
For three hours, there is complete darkness. In the Book of Exodus, a very similar experience occurs before Israel is released from bondage. The last judgment on the land of Egypt, right before the death of the firstborn, is three days of darkness. Exodus 10:22-23 (NLT) “So Moses lifted his hand to the sky, and a deep darkness covered the entire land of Egypt for three days. 23 During all that time the people could not see each other, and no one moved. But there was light as usual where the people of Israel lived.”
At the cross and beyond, no one is scurrying around doing business as usual. No one can work. No one can worship. No one can offer a Passover lamb until Christ’s work is complete. Jesus, our Passover Lamb, is offering Himself as the sin offering for us so that we can be freed from the bondage of sin. The Father turns off the light and places on Him the sin of the world. A sacred exchange, whereby Jesus gives His life and bears the penalty for our sin. That is only possible because of His sinless sacrifice. What wonder! What awe! Jesus makes this statement in John 8:12(NLT) “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.’”
The Pharisees freak out because they argue Jesus has no witnesses to support His claim so, therefore, His claim is invalid. Jesus responds that His claim is valid because He (Jesus) is one witness, and the Father is the other witness. Then later on Jesus makes this statement: 28 “So Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I am he.’” Now at the cross, Jesus is lifted up just as He said, and everyone witnesses the Son of Man on the cross. But now in the veil of darkness, only the Father and the Son are able to witness what is taking place. It is no wonder that the psalmist, looking forward to that day, would proclaim: “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. 23 This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see. 24 This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Thank God for His incredible sacrifice. We no longer have to walk in darkness. Jesus, the Light of the world, has become the Life of our world. John 1:4-5(NIV) “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’”
The only thing we will have without the Son is darkness. But thank God we don’t have to grapple in darkness or cower in fear because Jesus stepped into the darkness, and the darkness could not overcome Him. If today you feel surrounded by darkness or the weight of life pressing down on you, I have good news. Malachi 4:2 (NLT) “But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.”
The Father has made His Son sin for us so that the light of His Son will be the Sun of Righteousness in our lives. So do a little dance, take a joyful leap, and let the “Son” shine in!
Prayer:
•Thank God for Jesus and the price He paid for us.
•Seek the Lord's help to walk in the power of Jesus' Life.
•Pray for those who are still trapped in the darkness of their sin.
•Pray that you will be salt and light to others, and that your life will create a thirst for Jesus in them and provide guidance to the lost.
Posted in Jesus Devotional