Day FIVE Devotional: The CROSS!

They nailed JESUS to the cross.  It was brutal.  When He was on the cross some incredible things were happening. Matthew, Mark and Luke all record a period of DARKNESS. 

“Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour (noon- 3 pm) there was darkness over all the land” (Matthew 27:45 NKJV). 

“Suddenly and unexpectedly, the clouds started rolling over the land, becoming darker and darker until finally an ominous, dark gloom filled the entire sky and loomed over the landscape” (Rick Renner – Sparkling Gems from the Greek 273). 

Some people have tried to explain the darkness away as an eclipse.  That is not possible since the Passover occurred at the TIME OF A FULL MOON.  This darkness happened when the Father turned His back on the Son! 

This darkening occurred at the sixth hour, or noon time.  This is very significant for that was the very moment that “the high priest Caiaphas, arrayed in his full priestly garments, began the procession in which he would enter the temple to slaughter a pure, spotless Passover lamb” (Rick Renner – Sparkling Gems from the Greek 273).

The darkness lasted until the ninth hour (3 pm).  This was “…the exact moment the high priest would be making his entrance into the Holy of Holies to offer the blood of the Passover lamb to cover the sins of the nation” (Rick Renner – Sparkling Gems from the Greek 273).

Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.  ⁴⁶And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, ‘Father, 'into Your hands I commit (or release) My spirit.’  Having said this, He breathed His last.” (Luke 23:45-46 NKJV).

“Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.  Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom…” (Matthew 27:50, 51 NKJV).

So it was at this very moment, as the High Priest began to enter the Holy of Holies, through the veil, that Jesus cried “It is finished.”

This VEIL was “…sixty feet high, thirty feet wide, and an entire handbreadth in thickness!  One early Jewish writing states that the veil was so heavy; it took three hundred priests to move or manipulate it…At the very instant Caiaphas stepped up to pass through that veil Jesus declared, ‘It is finished’ the veil was torn in two and a great earthquake took place” (Rick Renner – Sparkling Gems from the Greek 273).

What victory, His assignment was finished, and the VEIL was RIPPED in two. Now the ENTRANCE into the Holy of Holies was made available through the sacrifice of Jesus.

Oral Roberts said: “Something GOOD is going to happen to you TODAY!” GOOD Friday is called GOOD because of the GOD OUTCOME!