Friday 6 April 2012

He Chose The Nails


Jesus' Last Words on the Cross


The hill is quiet now. Not still but quiet. For the first time all day there is no noise. The clamor began to subside when the darkness—that puzzling midday darkness—fell. Like water douses a fire, the shadows doused the ridicule. No more taunts. No more jokes. No more jesting. And, in time, no more mockers. One by one the onlookers turned and began the descent.

That is, all the onlookers except you and me. We did not leave. We came to learn. And so we lingered in the semidarkness and listened. We listened to the soldiers cursing, the passersby questioning, and the women weeping. But most of all, we listened to the trio of dying men groaning. Hoarse, guttural, thirsty groans. They groaned with each rolling of the head and each pivot of the legs.

But as the minutes became hours, these groans diminished. The three seemed dead. Were it not for the belabored breathing, you would have thought they were.

Then he screamed. As if someone had yanked his hair, the back of his head slammed against the sign that bore his name, and he screamed. Like a dagger cuts the curtain, his scream cut the dark. Standing as straight as the nails would permit, he cried as one calling for a lost friend, “Eloi!”

His voice was raspy, scratchy. Reflections of the torch flame danced in his wide eyes. “My God!”

Ignoring the volcano of erupting pain, he pushed upward until his shoulders were higher than his nailed hands. “Why have you forsaken me?”

The soldiers stared. The weeping of the women ceased. One of the Pharisees sneered sarcastically, “He’s calling Elijah.”

No one laughed.

He’d shouted a question to the heavens, and you half expected heaven to shout one in return.

And apparently it did. For the face of Jesus softened, and an afternoon dawn broke as he spoke a final time. “It is finished. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

As he gave his final breath, the earth gave a sudden stir. A rock rolled, and a soldier stumbled. Then, as suddenly as the silence was broken, the silence returned.

And now all is quiet. The mocking has ceased. There is no one to mock.

The soldiers are busy with the business of cleaning up the dead. Two men have come. Dressed well and meaning well, they are given the body of Jesus.

Max  Lucado

9 Fertilize my soul:

Felisol said...

Dear Amrita,
It is fulfilled once and for all.
Let's not be sad, but graceful.
Grace upon grace were given us for free.
From felisol

Donetta said...

Hi Sweet Lady
Happy Holy good Friday to you
I have stayed up late for the children do not need to be taught school in the morning. We have an extra girl here and it is just 2.18 am here and the threat of having my daughter sleep on the sofa stopped the silliness. Now I will head of to sleep.
I hope you are well. Are you able to live in the same home? I hope your heart continues to heal. I am so proud of your character to care for you mom all the days of her life. I do hope it is time to have YOUR live as you choose.
be blessed
D

Jada's Gigi said...

Powerful writing!

Sincerity said...

It is amazing how ordinary the extraordinary act of Jesus on the cross seemed to the bystanders that day.

How incredible that God has allowed us to be privy to all the words, whispers, and acts that may have escaped our notice too had we physically been there.

God is amazing! Jesus is amazing! What an awesome God we have!

Saija said...

the Lord gave max the gift of putting words together in such a way that we can visualize, dramatically, the event ...

thanx for sharing ... and blessings on you!!! (p.s. we are reading another max book - he is leo's favourite author)

Amrita said...

Thank you dear friends, indeed we were brought from death to life by what Jesus did for us on the cross.

Amrita said...

Thank you dear friends, indeed we were brought from death to life by what Jesus did for us on the cross.

Amrita said...

Dear Donetta, one day your children will rise up and call you blessed. God bless you.

Yes I am living in the same house which my father built. I am continuing with my church ministry.

Amrita said...

sent by email

thank you for this remembrance of the price He paid for my soul....Randall