The Showdown
The showdown was at High Noon. The Hero at one end of the street. Ready to stand for all that is good against all that is evil.
The bad guy waits just a few yards down the same dusty road. He has terrorized people for as long as anyone can remember. Bystanders look on, peaking out to see just who will win.
Duel at Skull Hill
But this showdown wasn't in Dodge City. Not Tombstone. This wasn't the OK Corral.
This was Skull Hill. And this ultimate showdown between our Good God and the evil one occurred at high noon in Palestine some 2100 years ago.
Three Bloody Hours
According to Mark, Jesus' crucifixion actually began at 9am (Mk 15:25). For three long, arduous hours Christ hung on Calvary's cross. He was the object of abuse from all in attendance.
Sometime before High Noon, Luke records the tender conversation between a dying Jesus and the repentant thief (v40-43). Three long, excruciating, bloody hours.
Darkness at Midday
It's noon. High Noon. Using Jewish time-telling, Luke describes it as "about the sixth hour" (v44). But this was not like any other midday. It got dark. VERY dark.
The showdown was at High Noon. The Hero at one end of the street. Ready to stand for all that is good against all that is evil.
The bad guy waits just a few yards down the same dusty road. He has terrorized people for as long as anyone can remember. Bystanders look on, peaking out to see just who will win.
Duel at Skull Hill
But this showdown wasn't in Dodge City. Not Tombstone. This wasn't the OK Corral.
This was Skull Hill. And this ultimate showdown between our Good God and the evil one occurred at high noon in Palestine some 2100 years ago.
Three Bloody Hours
According to Mark, Jesus' crucifixion actually began at 9am (Mk 15:25). For three long, arduous hours Christ hung on Calvary's cross. He was the object of abuse from all in attendance.
Sometime before High Noon, Luke records the tender conversation between a dying Jesus and the repentant thief (v40-43). Three long, excruciating, bloody hours.
Darkness at Midday
It's noon. High Noon. Using Jewish time-telling, Luke describes it as "about the sixth hour" (v44). But this was not like any other midday. It got dark. VERY dark.
This can't be explained astronomically as an eclipse since this was during the full moon of Passover. This is divine darkness. All throughout the OT, the Day of the Lord and God's judgment are always associated with darkness (Is 5:30; 13:10-11; Joel 2:1-2; Am 5:20; Zeph 1:14-15).
The Great Exchange
God is pouring out His wrath on sin. As Jesus takes on all our sin for all time, the Father must punish Him. This divine darkness was a super-concentrated version of the Day of the Lord.
It is the Great Exchange that Luther described. The One who never sinned became sin for us so that we could actually become the righteousness of God (2Cor 5:21).
Unlike a classic movie gunfight, this showdown at High Noon actually involved more than just two persons. While Jesus stared down Satan and sin, the Father punished His Son for the sins of the world.
Torn at the Temple
Meanwhile, strange things were happening inside the temple (v45). According to Mark, God ripped the massive, heavy curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from top to bottom (Mk 25:38).
The Great Exchange
God is pouring out His wrath on sin. As Jesus takes on all our sin for all time, the Father must punish Him. This divine darkness was a super-concentrated version of the Day of the Lord.
It is the Great Exchange that Luther described. The One who never sinned became sin for us so that we could actually become the righteousness of God (2Cor 5:21).
Unlike a classic movie gunfight, this showdown at High Noon actually involved more than just two persons. While Jesus stared down Satan and sin, the Father punished His Son for the sins of the world.
Torn at the Temple
Meanwhile, strange things were happening inside the temple (v45). According to Mark, God ripped the massive, heavy curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from top to bottom (Mk 25:38).
Thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus, the presence of God is now open to all (Heb 10:19-22). We can come boldly before our holy God because of what Jesus did at the showdown at High Noon.
A Life Laid Down
Luke only records Christ’s last words on the cross. "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!" (v46). In reality, Jesus wasn't killed. He died willingly. He only gave up His life when He was good and ready (Jn 10:17-18).
A Life Laid Down
Luke only records Christ’s last words on the cross. "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!" (v46). In reality, Jesus wasn't killed. He died willingly. He only gave up His life when He was good and ready (Jn 10:17-18).
As we see throughout Christ's passion, God is in complete and total control of the entire process. Also, note that Jesus cried out in "a loud voice." Another indication that He was not on the brink of physical death, but willingly gave His life into the hands of His Father.
Once again, this incredible week drips with prophetic words from the OT. Jesus doesn't just yell some random, pain-filled plea. Again He quotes from the OT. This time it's a direct quote from Psalms 31:5. His death is a fulfillment of centuries of Scripture.
He Breathed His Last
This showdown doesn't end like those in the movies. After three dark hours, the Hero dies. "And having said this, He breathed His last" (v46). The corpse of the One so many had hoped would save them hangs limp and bloody on the cross.
Then another amazing moment occurs at this scene of capital punishment. The lead executioner makes an announcement. The Roman centurion, the man in charge of killing Jesus and two other convicted criminals, tells the crowd, "Certainly this Man was innocent!" (v47).
Once again, this incredible week drips with prophetic words from the OT. Jesus doesn't just yell some random, pain-filled plea. Again He quotes from the OT. This time it's a direct quote from Psalms 31:5. His death is a fulfillment of centuries of Scripture.
He Breathed His Last
This showdown doesn't end like those in the movies. After three dark hours, the Hero dies. "And having said this, He breathed His last" (v46). The corpse of the One so many had hoped would save them hangs limp and bloody on the cross.
Then another amazing moment occurs at this scene of capital punishment. The lead executioner makes an announcement. The Roman centurion, the man in charge of killing Jesus and two other convicted criminals, tells the crowd, "Certainly this Man was innocent!" (v47).
For the fifth time in just a few short hours, Christ is said to be not guilty (v4, 14-15, 22, 41). I must understand that Jesus was the sinless Lamb of God who died for sinful me.
The showdown at High Noon is over. Our Hero is dead. But the story is not over. Not in the least.
©2017
Jay Jennings
Jay : your story is a good one but it is not the full Biblical account of Jesus Crucifixion in the Gospels.
ReplyDeleteParts of HIS crucifixion are told in all 4 Gospels thus it is necessary to consult all 4 gospels to get the complete picture.
In Mark 15:33-34 it says, "33At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 34Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”f"
The time that Mark used is our Babylonian method of telling time. At 3:00 P.M. Is when Jesus spoke the remez: Eloi, Eloi, Lama ...
Which is Psalm 22:1 and those listening would know then end of that remez which is that God came and saved them. (I mentioned this earlier when you wrote about God forsaking Jesus).
At 3:00 P. M. is also when we had the violent earthquake and the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom showing us we did not have to pray through a priest anymore but we now have direct access to GOD Almighty (somehow a major religion didn't see this part of the Bible).
It was right before these responses from the natural world that Jesus did indeed give up HIS spirit.
You are totally correct that Jesus wasn't killed but gave up HIS spirit on our behalf.
I use a Bible sometimes that is all chronological in order. It really helps read the Bible as a grand story from beginning to end. A great one is The Narrative Bible by a former college professor of mine: F. Lagard Smith. I highly recommend it.