Friday 12 October, 2012

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. 47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

I can’t imagine what it would have been like for Jesus’ friends that day. I know how the story ends. They didn’t. After everything they had seen and heard, this day must have been distressing and impossible to comprehend. They had grasped the truth that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who came to save them – and now this? How could this possibly be part of God’s plan? When the onlookers went home, His friends stood at a distance watching… waiting… hoping…

There are days in my life when I am unable to comprehend what is going on, I am distressed at the circumstances I find myself in and cannot see where my Saviour is or what He is doing. Like Jesus friends, I stand at a distance, watching, waiting, hoping.

But when I choose to lift my eyes to the cross, I don’t see a defeated friend, I see a resurrected Saviour whose love never fails. I choose to put my trust in You Lord Jesus, knowing that you are able to overcome even death.

Written by Ps. Linda Quinn