As we approach Easter Sunday, it is a special time to reflect on the death by crucifixion, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The book of Matthew records one of the seven sayings of Christ while dying on the cross.
“About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, li, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) (Matthew 27:46, NIV).
Why did Jesus say this to His Father in heaven and what it its meaning? Actually, Jesus quoted Psalm 22:1 which reads exactly the same but with an added line: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?” (NIV). Furthermore, Jesus sought for his hearers to read the full text of Psalm 22, which foretold of what would occur when He willingly gave up his life on the cross.
God the Father abandoned His Son Jesus for 6 hours because He cannot look upon sin. It took six hours of intense suffering for Jesus to remove the sins and guilt of the world. But only those who believe on him by faith alone will be forgiven! (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Jesus hung on the cross from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. We read: “From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land” (Matthew 27:45, NIV).
Non-believers say this was merely an eclipse but this is untrue. Even the Greek historian Thallus confirmed in 52 A.D. that the Earth went dark for three hours. It was what we would call a brownout here in the Philippines, but with intense suffering.
Brownouts Now
All over the Philippines we experience brownouts at various times of any day. Some are caused by disasters such as typhoons. Others are caused by malfeasance, ineptitude, corruption and a dire lack of forward thinking. But if you think brownouts are bad now, there is a great “brownout” yet to come!
The Last Brownout
The Apostle John was on the Island of Patmos (a small island off the coast of Greece) and was permitted to see visions of the future. We read of the final brownout of the entire earth:
“I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place” (Revelation 6:12-14, NIV).
The above-mentioned verse announces the Second coming of Christ Jesus and the end of the world as we now know it. Furthermore, an earthquake was a regular feature of divine visitation. In fact, when God descended on Sinai, “the whole mountain trembled violently” (Exodus 19:18). Again, this coming this great earthquake is to be accompanied by the sun turning black like sackcloth made of goat hair.
As Easter nears, we are reminded that Jesus died for our sins: past, present and what remains of our respective future. We can know that the time is near by the "signs in the heavens." Are you ready for the return of Jesus? What would you be doing if he came today?
I urge you to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Reflect or meditate on the price Christ paid for you and I, and remember, only those who confess their sins and believe on Jesus will be spared from the wrath of God which is certain to come.