THE DARKEST HOUR

By Jay Pearson

 

“It is finished.” These are the words spoken by our Lord as he died on the cross. Some rejoiced, some cried, and some feared and were scattered. Soon the dark hour would be pierced by the bright and morning Star.

John 19:30:
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Luke 23:44-45:
And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

Darkness covered the whole earth when the Word in the flesh died for our sins. Man’s sin was paid for by a perfect sacrifice and pure blood. Jesus Christ was that sacrifice and it was his blood that was shed for the remission of our sins. This payment for us was made not when we were beginning to do the right thing, not even when we were thinking about doing the right thing. It was when we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Yes, the Son of God died for you and me.

Hebrews 10:12:
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Romans 5:8:
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Mark 15:39:
And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

Joseph of Arimathaea went boldly to Pilate and pleaded for the body of Jesus for burial. After Pilate had inquired of the centurion whether Jesus was so soon dead, he then gave the body to Joseph.

Mark 15:45-46:
And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.
46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.

This would not be the end, but the beginning. God chose this time to reveal part of a mystery. The darkest hour would soon be the beginning of the brightest day.

1 Corinthians 2:7-8:
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Truly the resurrection of the Lord of Glory Jesus Christ was spectacular. One would expect royalty to be the first to behold Him. Kings, Queens, or even his twelve disciples would be the ones to behold his resurrected self.

Matthew 28:1-2:
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

No such royalty or person of authority would behold the first appearance of Jesus Christ. Who was the first to behold his birth on this earth? Was it kings, queens, or even the wise men? No, it was shepherds in the fields. Who would behold his resurrection first? A certain woman who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, one who had devils cast out of her body, and was thankful; she was the first to behold Jesus Christ risen.

Mark 16:9:
Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

God is so gracious and his mercy endureth forever. He doesn’t often choose the wise or prominent, but the foolish and weak.

1 Corinthians 1:26-27:
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

Read in Romans 6 of your identity in Christ. Surely we should walk in the newness of life. We can’t walk perfectly, but we can walk toward perfection. Let’s not look back, but look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Let’s see ourselves risen in Christ and be thankful, and glorify his name all the days of our life.

Romans 6:4:
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

God bless and keep you this Easter and all the days of your life. AMEN.

 

 

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From the March 2007 issue of The Vine & Branches

 

 

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From the December 2006 issue of The Vine & Branches