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Just this past week, one of our daughters asked why Maine’s state slogan is the way life should be.
My wife tried to explain that Maine life was not meant to be hurried while overlooking all the beauty around us.
Instead, we should experience it and appreciate it fully.
Sometimes there are situations and events in our lives that cause us to question and wonder if that’s really the way it is supposed to be.
Sometimes, it is hard to accept the consequences of Adam’s sin, but I am convinced that God always works things to be the way they should be for His honor and glory.
I can’t explain logically; yet, I can trust God implicitly.
The events this last week of Christ’s earthy life had looked like total absurdity and beyond belief were now shaping to be what appeared to be the worst tragedy ever to be witnessed.
What happens in these final hours is what will change the course of many lives.
In God’s plans, what may look so wrong is simply the way it should be.
Final Hours with Jesus - 23:44-46
Sometimes we may feel as if the Bible accounts of the time of day are almost as confusing as military time.
Quite simply, the Jewish way of telling time means that this darkness happened about Noon and continued through 3 PM.
Contained within these two verses, are a couple of amazing events.
First, is the darkness; second, the tearing of the temple veil or curtain.
Sometimes we may feel as if the Bible accounts of the time of day are almost as confusing as military time.
Quite simply, the Jewish way of telling time means that this happened about Noon and continued through 3 PM.
Contained within these verse two verses, are a couple of amazing events.
First, is the darkness; second, the tearing of the temple veil or curtain.
Let’s look first at the total darkness.
Scientists cannot find any evidence of an eclipse that occurred during that time.
Since Passover always has a full moon, an eclipse is impossible.
It’s as if God turned off a switch and caused this darkness, making such an impact that Luke wrote it down in his Gospel.
Remember that Luke got this information from eyewitnesses and was moved by the Holy Spirit to record it.
We also know that quite frequently in the Old Testament, God’s judgment on His people was often connected with unexplainable darkness.
What might be significant about this darkness?
If we are to connect this with God’s judgment, it would make sense that His judgment would be leveled against Jesus Christ, Who was now responsible for the sins of all who would choose salvation.
John MacArthur words it this way: Infinite wrath moved by infinite righteousness released infinite punishment on the Son.
Luke also describes the tearing of the curtain.
This was a very heavy curtain which was made up of multiple layers of fabric which was folded on itself.
For this to naturally occur or for someone to have physically done this would have been impossible.
Obviously, we can assume that this was another supernatural event.
Some would suggest this is a fairy tale.
However, Matthew relates this to the fact that there was an earthquake at the same time, which left the holy of holies exposed for everyone to see.
That would not have been possible if the curtain would have been the way it was supposed to be, as one unit.
However, everyone had it opened before them, symbolizing that which was designed to keep people out, now allowed access to the very presence of God.
It is also helpful to our understanding to realize that this curtain event took place immediately after the darkness was finished.
In this short section of Scripture, an eternal 3 hours was taking place.
Matthew tells us that the curtain was torn from top to bottom.
Something which should not have happened normally based upon the world as we know it.
This was revealing that the purchase of our salvation was complete.
Everything involved with the temple worship was no longer necessary since Jesus had taken care of everything.
We have talked before about those who thought they were in control but really were merely fulfilling Scripture.
Jesus is seen as being fully in control even in verse 46, by the fact that He was the One Who committed His spirit to the Father.
The Greek work for commit refers to commit to safekeeping.
This phrase was actually used in a Jewish child’s bedtime prayer.
That is not unlike a prayer that many parents teach their children today: Now I lay me down to sleep; I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
And if I die before I wake; I pray the Lord my soul to take.
Followers Observation of Jesus - 23:47-49
The centurion was actually the one in charge of all the soldiers who were involved in the physical part of the crucifixion.
Interestingly, he was so moved that he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent.”
Some translations refer to the soldier’s description as the fact that Jesus was righteous.
Isn’t that interesting?
Government officials all declared Jesus to be innocent.
Pilate had already declared Jesus innocent four times before this.
The centurion was actually the one in charge of all the soldiers who were involved in the physical part of the crucifixion.
Interestingly, he was so moved that he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent.”
Some translations refer to the soldier’s description as the fact that Jesus was righteous.
Isn’t that interesting?
Government officials all declared Jesus to be innocent.
Pilate had already declared Jesus innocent four times before this.
In the centurion’s response, it seems obvious that he was convinced beyond any doubt that Jesus was Who He said He was.
All that they had observed was unlike anything these hardened soldiers had ever experienced.
The centurion had observed Jesus’ absolute control of the whole situation, in particular, His death, as beyond anything human.
So, we we look at his response, it seems that the centurion was fully in agreement that Jesus, being the Son of God, was completely righteous.
Isn’t it amazing to think that amongst the first people who came to salvation, they were hardened Roman soldiers?
We then see that everyone who had come as spectators began to leave.
It appears that they were beating their chests as if in extreme sadness and possibly guilt and fear.
It is hard to imagine the emotional state of this crowd.
They started out less than a week earlier, shouting the praises of God for Jesus.
Then many were manipulated by the religious leaders to have Him crucified.
Now they had been right there in the midst of the mob mentality watching.
What they saw must have been incredibly moving and convicting.
But what would they actually do about it?
ting?
Government officials all declared Jesus to be innocent.
Pilate had already declared Jesus innocent four times before this.
However, those who were close to Him, including women from Galilee, stood back, a distance away.
These must have felt incredible loss.
How difficult it must have been to see all this taking place with One Whom they loved so much.
Recognizing that He is the Son of God, it must have seemed like the entirety of their world had been turned inside out.
Nothing was making any sense to them at that moment.
It definitely did not seem like this was the way it should be.
Friends Honoring of Jesus - 23:50-56
Luke 23:50-56
Luke 23:50-56
As we look at these last verses in chapter 23, I want us to understand that as much of the supernatural had occurred earlier on the cross, the burial aspect had the divine hand of God upon it just as well.
We know that God accomplishes His purposes in His own ways.
He can easily do so by the miraculous.
He does this by overriding the laws of nature which He designed anyway.
Our response is often accompanied by a jaw-dropping loud explanation of WOW!
Another means of God accomplishing His purposes is seen in what we would call God’s providence.
Here, we do not see the miraculous in the events.
God simply takes the situations as they are and puts them all together the way He desires and His purposes are accomplished.
All the attitudes and choices which we make, God uses for His glory.
All that His creation chooses to do, God is able to work together to cause the result which He wants.
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