There was the Crossing over the Stream called Darkness, and into the momentary Garden of Vital Pressing. Oh, the awesome beauty of this garden was the moment of mystery that it held. This was the place where the grapes would be separated from their life giving essence and be called wine. This is where the olives would be pressed and the restorative extraction would be called oil. The Wine and the Oil - the Blood and the Spirit in mystical union, kneeling in the threshold of horns of Eternity's Altar of Sacrifice for all mankind.
Though none could stay awake during the prayer that kept Him alive in that moment of the garden pressing. Jesus prayed that that cup of life-threatening stress would pass. Jesus prayed so that He could press on the to the shame, the mockery, the spitting, the scourging, the nailing and the suffocating pain that He would endure until He would commend His spirit to the Father, and expire with a broken heart. "And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit, and having said thus, He gave up the ghost. Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, certainly this was a righteous man. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts and returned. And all his acquaintances, and the women that followed from Galilee, stood afar off beholding these things." Luke 23:46 -49
And there still stands men squabbling over insignificant details such as: the day of the week; counting nights and days, or days and nights to figure which day of the week to declare "Holy". They argue over "the hour" ... the third, the sixth, the ninth ...though no man on that day, looking at the sky, could tell the real hour for the dark sky veil that hung so timely to somewhat cover the shame of the moment. They would continue to pick and poke at where the nails were actually placed to torture the body of Jesus; though deaf to the Blood that would scream love from every piercing. They would joust about the wood's carpentry, composition, and positioning; when all that truly mattered was that the Son of God was suspended in that moment creating the only acceptable bridge to the Father with His perfect sacrifice. No one seemed to notice that while hanging between Heaven and Earth, He staved off 72,000 of Heaven's Warrior Angels and all the hoards of Hell's demons, while His death was planted momentarily into the heart of the Earth, but forever planted into the heart of Heaven for such wretched souls that we be.
JESUS DIED ... and with 3 days and 3 nights of death's silence echoing from a large stone covered, empire sealed, and soldier guarded tomb ... The message of His death became the first belief at the empty tomb. The Horror of Christ's Crucifixion negated and erased the few words that could have sustained hope ... "And I will Rise again!" The first stare into the empty tomb cried "grave robbers" to the disciples. And so they went back to hiding in further discouragement. Jesus did not allow them to stay in despair, Jesus personally and creatively shattered that first belief and brought back their remembrance of the promises.
Today that Gospel was alive and still holds our hearts in an orbit of longing ... longing to be with Him where He is ... some day! This Easter Message is to those who believe without all the squabbling that causes men to fight and bicker to stake their claim on righteous fame. Easter 2015 puts us one day closer to the Return of our Lord to claim His Bride - "I will come again!" So don't just say Jesus is a righteous man. Don't just look at what was done and beat your chest in unbelief, and quit standing afar off in fear. Rejoice for your redemption draweth nigh!
For with each day passing His coming is growing nearer - Woe unto those who blur the light in our days by denying us the hope of this glorious event which could be on us in the "twinkling of an eye".
"He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly, Amen. Even so, come , Lord Jesus." Revelation 22:20
"The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, Amen." Revelation 22:21
Happy Easter - Anticipate His return; you will not be disappointed!
HLFA,
Jeff