darkness

it was a dark and stormy afternoon. i looked for a picture for illustration, but realized that neither image nor word can describe that day. first-century onlookers asked, "is he really who he said he was, if he is being crucified on a cross? this must not be the son of god afterall."

but something was different. the sky was eerie, and the atmosphere was dark and spiritually heavy. in fact, some say that even though it was mid-afternoon, the sky went completely black when he died. i can't explain it, but on this day i feel a darkness. as i write, i have a knot in my throat, as i think about what christ did that day, so many years ago.

it was an age of honor. chivalrous codes declared that to die with utmost honor meant to die for the sake of others. what was his purpose in death? was it not the most significant way that christ could have expressed his love for humanity? the pain he experienced outweighs any pain that we might face in our lives. if it hadn't been for such suffering, would christ be able to identify with us, experience our pain with us, and walk with us into healing? you see, because he conquored death through resurrection, christ has the power to walk with us in our suffering into healing.

the greatest sacrifice. he died with honor in order to have the ability to walk with us into healing.