'Raising of the Cross' - Rembrandt
Rembrandt's haunting painting "Raising of the Cross" arrests our attention in two dramatic ways. First, Rembrandt portrayed himself at the foot of the cross, emblematic that it was his sin that required such a sacrifice. Arresting as that is, even that fact is nearly overtaken by the utter darkness of the scene. Rembrandt captures the darkness, the midnight-darkness, of that first Good Friday afternoon as a dusky purple-black shroud over Golgotha.
Darkness did hang over the land like a shroud - Scripture remarks on it. Then the earth shook, graves opened, and the curtain in the temple was split in two. What was happening?
Jesus had repeatedly said His ministry would culminate at a certain point in time. Remember how many times he said, “…my hour is not yet come”? Something has now changed, for on Good Friday we hear him pray, in John 17, “Father the hour has come.” Then, as the chief priests came to arrest him Jesus says, “This is your house, the power of darkness.” It was the time of evil’s dominion.
During that time of darkness, a transaction took place. The sins of the world were laid on Jesus on the cross, and Christ cried out in abandonment as God turned away from the sight of the sin-bearer.
“Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
- Matthew 27:45-46
The chief priests and the mob had shouted, “Come down from the cross,” but Christ went up from the cross, to triumph over principalities and powers.
The crowd shrieked in mockery at the holy Son of God, “Save yourself,” but He saved others instead. In this darkness, He saved not Himself, but us.
Jesus declined to pursue His own deliverance, that He might loose us from sin. Out of that darkness at Golgotha, came a mighty light!
When Jesus took the sinners’ place He passed beyond the limits of God’s mercy. Under the judgment of sin, Jesus Christ went for a time out of the divine presence of His Father. Ultimately, He conquered the powers of darkness.
It is any wonder the old world rocked and the mountains trembled? Is it really such a marvel that graves were opened and the veil of the temple split in two? It is any wonder that nature hid her face in darkness from the Creator as He paid the price for sin?
Praise the Lord; the darkness did not triumph. Praise the Lord; Jesus emerged victorious! Praise the Lord: the work is finished! Good Friday is the darkness before the dawn - but the SON rise is coming soon!
Dear Jesus, Your agony on the cross bought our lives; Your separation from Your Father bought our relationships with Him. Your compassion and love are beyond understanding, and we are so very grateful. It is finished - Amen!
For His Glory,
Cara & Patti
Classic Christianity
Darkness did hang over the land like a shroud - Scripture remarks on it. Then the earth shook, graves opened, and the curtain in the temple was split in two. What was happening?
Jesus had repeatedly said His ministry would culminate at a certain point in time. Remember how many times he said, “…my hour is not yet come”? Something has now changed, for on Good Friday we hear him pray, in John 17, “Father the hour has come.” Then, as the chief priests came to arrest him Jesus says, “This is your house, the power of darkness.” It was the time of evil’s dominion.
During that time of darkness, a transaction took place. The sins of the world were laid on Jesus on the cross, and Christ cried out in abandonment as God turned away from the sight of the sin-bearer.
“Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
- Matthew 27:45-46
The chief priests and the mob had shouted, “Come down from the cross,” but Christ went up from the cross, to triumph over principalities and powers.
The crowd shrieked in mockery at the holy Son of God, “Save yourself,” but He saved others instead. In this darkness, He saved not Himself, but us.
Jesus declined to pursue His own deliverance, that He might loose us from sin. Out of that darkness at Golgotha, came a mighty light!
When Jesus took the sinners’ place He passed beyond the limits of God’s mercy. Under the judgment of sin, Jesus Christ went for a time out of the divine presence of His Father. Ultimately, He conquered the powers of darkness.
It is any wonder the old world rocked and the mountains trembled? Is it really such a marvel that graves were opened and the veil of the temple split in two? It is any wonder that nature hid her face in darkness from the Creator as He paid the price for sin?
Praise the Lord; the darkness did not triumph. Praise the Lord; Jesus emerged victorious! Praise the Lord: the work is finished! Good Friday is the darkness before the dawn - but the SON rise is coming soon!
Dear Jesus, Your agony on the cross bought our lives; Your separation from Your Father bought our relationships with Him. Your compassion and love are beyond understanding, and we are so very grateful. It is finished - Amen!
For His Glory,
Cara & Patti
Classic Christianity
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