Friday, April 2, 2010







Dark Calvary


"Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour." (Matthew 27:45)

The second verse of the grand old hymn "The Old Rugged Cross" contains much truth, rich and deep.
Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

The world despises the cross, and the One on the cross. "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not" (Isaiah 53:3). But yet, even in His bloodied and broken form, there is a wondrous attraction, for "surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: . . . he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" (vv. 4-5).

His death substituted for ours. He was the sacrificial "Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). This Lamb is none other than God the Son, who willingly "took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: . . . and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:7-8). Remarkably, even God the Father "despised" Him as He hung on the cross, for God is holy, and for our sakes had "made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). The apex of Christ's suffering came, as we see in our text, when God the Father separated Himself from His beloved Son, "forsaking " (v. 46) Christ to suffer for three hours the awful pangs of hell which we deserved. So I'll cherish the old rugged cross.
JDM used with permission from Days of Praise..

5 comments:

Donna said...

He took my punishment and I get his Grace. What a wonderful thing, I don't fully understand it but, I'm so glad that faith is just accepting it, not analizing it.
On this "good Friday" I humbly thank The Lord Jesus for his sacrifice on my behalf.
Happy Resurrection Day! Donna

Covnitkepr1 said...

What jesus bore before the cross was shameful...what He bore the three hours it grew dark is beyond human comprehention...He bore the sins of the world. Thank you Jesus

Dee said...

Oh HAPPY DAY!!!!!!

Barbara said...

Yes Have a happy Resurrection day my friends, and because HE lives I can face tomorrow. Praise God for the resurrection..

Farming On Faith said...

Amen~
You have a Blessed Easter~Friend!