Very mysterious happenings were
reported just after a terrible crime took place. Discover what part
you had in that crime and why you should accept your part of
the blame!
About nine o'clock one morning wicked men took their Creator, the
Lord Jesus Christ, and crucified Him! 1*. Soon some very mysterious things began to
happen! At mid-day, "the sun stopped shining" and "darkness came
over the whole land!" 2*. What was going on? What had they done?
They had committed a terrible crime deserving death from God! But
they were saved from immediate judgment because Jesus prayed,
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
3*.
For three hours that awful darkness covered the land. Fear and
wonder filled the hearts of all those around; yet God was NOT out
to punish or destroy mankind at that time. "God did not send
His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world
through Him." 4*.
Later as that horrible darkness lifted Jesus called out with a loud
voice, "'Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.' When He had
said this, He breathed His last." …"The earth shook and the rocks
split." "And the curtain of the temple was torn in two."
5*. Even the Roman
centurion at the crucifixion said, "Surely this was a righteous
man. Surely He was the Son of God." 6*.
That very heavy curtain of the Temple had always been a reminder to
the people that they were separated from the Holy God because of
their sins. 7*. But
after the death of Jesus,God ripped that curtain open to
teach us that a new WAY had now been opened for sinners to come and
find forgiveness and acceptance with God. 8*.
You see, God had allowed sinful, wicked mankind to go ahead with
their evil plan and sacrifice Jesus, His Perfect Son. Christ, by
His innocent death, was willingly taking the punishment that you
and I deserved for our sins. Now God can offer to forgive and
accept all those who will love and trust Jesus who died for them.
9*. Will you accept
that Jesus took the punishment for your sins?
Jesus committed His life and death into His Father's hands.
What would God's response be?
God was soon to raise Jesus from the dead to show that He
was completely satisfied with Jesus' sacrifice for our sins.
10*.
That was to be God's way of showing to Jesus, and to the world,
that Jesus had done enough to pay for our sins. That is why the
risen Jesus is the One - the only One - who can truly forgive sins
and who can get the sinner who trusts in Him to Heaven and God.
8*.
Some went away from the scene of that crucifixion confused and
afraid because of the crime that had taken place.
God allowed Jesus to be sacrificed on that one occasion for
your sins in order to be able to offer to freely forgive you today.
ASK THE RISEN, LIVING JESUS NOW, IN FAITH, TO FORGIVE ALL
YOUR SINS, AND TO ACCEPT YOU, BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE HE HAS ALREADY
PAID FOR YOUR SINS HIMSELF.
Don't you be in any doubt about these things recorded in Luke's
Gospel chapter 23, verses 44-49.
Bye for now,
John Nixon, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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Footnotes. Bible quotations from N.I.V.
1 Acts 2:22-23.
2 Luke 23:44-45.
3 Luke 23:34.
4 John 3:17.
5 Luke 23:45-46. Matthew
27:51-52.
6 Luke 23:47. Matthew
27:54.
7 Isaiah 59:2.
8 John 14:6. Hebrews
7:23-28. 10:19-22.
9 John 3:16-18. Romans
3:21-26.
10 Acts 5:30-32. 1st
Corinthians 15:1-4. Luke 24:46-48.
