The sun was peeking its head just above the horizon as if to silently introduce another day. The wind stirred as if to respond from its quiet rest and answered. The dawn pushed the night away and lifted like a heavy quilt. Hope is born in the morning and is carried on the wings of one’s imagination of what might lie ahead in the gift of another day.
Little did the unsuspecting world realize that this day would be the mother of all days. For this day was the hub of destiny for all mankind. It was the day that light would meet the darkness of evil on a hill outside of Jerusalem called Golgotha. Hope had been born in a manger and love was shown in the face of a savior who had come to tear down the prison walls that had encapsulated man’s eternal destiny. Darkness fled at the light and the presence of divinity in a human body. For thousands of years the darkness of evil had oppressed the sons and daughters of God with its lust and fleshly deprivation. Enticing them to eat of things forbidden and to turn from the extended hands of their creator. The time had come and Captain of the Lord’s host stood ready to fill the gap and pay the price of freedom. Though He had created all things he now allowed himself to be subject to His own creation. Robed in flesh and made lower than the angels, he became the incarnation of God’s love in a human body. Though humanity had sought a God of vengeance, the law dictated a perfect lamb of sacrifice. Though he held in His hand all power and authority He allowed Himself to be taken as a lamb for the slaughter on this day the mother of all days. Not for an act of indiscretion or for any sin of any sort. He stood in my place, He stood in your place to take the punishment for our transgressions. The wages of our sin and rebellion were placed upon Him who had no sin. God’s love is shown as bright as a supernova on this very day as He willfully bore the stripes upon His back and the nails in His hands.
The enemy of man’s soul directed the ignorant and darkened minds of those that followed him to carry out his tasks. For though very few recognized this man satan knew him well. From the moment of His birth to this very moment he had not stopped in his attempts to destroy his character and spread contemptuous lies about his motives. How he had longed to crush Him and thrust Him from the world God Himself had created. Now as Christ hangs from a wooden cross between heaven and earth he swells in pride that he has won the final event.
It seems all of God’s creation clearly sees what is being played out in this drama on this the day of deliverance. The sun’s light turns away from this scene and the earthquakes in revulsion. For it is beyond comprehension to think that the creator of all would allow its own creation to destroy its own physical essence.
Little did the destroyer realize that it was not the nails of the cross, or the soldiers that had bound him to this wooden stake. For the power of an omniscient and omnipotent God cannot be restrained by the finite tools of a corruptible creation. No my friend, it was you and I that held Him to the cross. For love would not turn aside from the mission it had come to perform. God’s love for you would not settle for just a short visitation He had come to restore eternal life to those He loved. God saw your tears before you ever existed. He shared your pain before you ever experienced it. He was willing to take upon Himself the price for your sin before you ever committed it. Even though He took the chance that you would even respond to His love, He still paid the price to make redemption available to you if you should desire it. There is my friend a voice calling out your name, asking for your attention longing for your response. God’s love for you is so great that He came unto this world just for you and I.
Little did satan realize that day that the death of Christ was not a victory at all for his cause. The cross was the crowning victory for the children of God, for hell lost its hold on all mankind and the grave lost its sting. Oh the battle will continue till that final day of His triumphant return. However the victory was established on an ordinary day several thousand years ago. A day just like today became a day of deliverance for those willing to share it.
Acts 2 King James Version
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.