Christian Reflection and Prayer

Read Matthew 8: 5-13.

TEXT: It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness
over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light
failed (see Luke 23:44-45).

Three long, dreadful hours have passed since Jesus was
crucified. Around noon a dramatic change takes place. Suddenly,
Jesus, the criminals, the Roman guards, the Jewish leaders, and
the crowds are cast into an eerie, unnatural darkness because
the sun fails to shine. Jesus had spoken of such darkness before.
 
In the reading above, Jesus was asked to heal the servant of a
Roman centurion. Contrasting the faith of this non-Jew with the
doubt and disbelief many of His fellow Jews felt toward Him, Jesus
warned the crowds, "Many will come from east and west and
recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of
heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer
darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Now this outer darkness envelopes Jesus. Though He has been
absolutely flawless and perfect throughout his entire life and has
committed no crime great or small, He is cut off from the glory of
heaven. The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity, the sin, the guilt of
us all.

We are the ones who deserve this darkness because of our
disobedience to God's perfect will. We should be shackled in the
everlasting night of hell to suffer excruciating, endless agony. But
our King suffers through the darkness of the cross that we might
be forgiven and inherit His glorious home in heaven.
 
Cut off from any comfort of created light, our Savior Jesus Christ
bears the brunt of His Father's furious judgment at the sins of the
world.

THE PRAYER: 

Lord Jesus, who can fathom the depths of Your love in taking our
place under Your Father's wrath, being forsaken and punished in our
stead? Thank You for Your gracious salvation and accept our loving
praise, worship and service. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)