Christian Reflection and Prayer

Read Matthew 27:51-53.

TEXT: And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two,
from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were
split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the
saints who had fallen asleep were raised (Matthew 27:51-52).

During the early hours of Jesus' crucifixion, it was easy for
the Jewish people streaming into town to conclude He had
been a fraud and a fake. To all appearances His claim to be
God's Son had finally caught up with Him because God had
cursed Him and permitted that horrible death. They interpreted
all the evidence they had seen as proof of Jesus' guilt.

Then came the supernatural miracles that accompanied His
crucifixion and death. First, was the three hours of ominous,
supernatural darkness. Then at Jesus' death a great earthquake
struck the city, splitting the rocks apart. The Jewish religious
leaders got a sign of their own-the curtain separating the Holy
Place from the Most Holy Place in the temple was torn in two
from top to bottom. Finally, the earthquake broke tombs open
and many dead saints came to life, appearing in the city to
others after Jesus' resurrection.

After seeing all these events the centurion and his soldiers said,
"Truly this was the Son of God!" Luke notes the reaction of the
crowds that stood there witnessing these things, "And all the
crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw
what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts"
(Luke 23:48). Beating one's breast was a demonstration of
profound grief, fear and regret.

These miracles didn't convince everyone, but they were powerful
signs that God's Son was sacrificing Himself for our sins. A
miracle even more clear was coming in three short days.

THE PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, thank You for the signs that accompanied
Your Son's suffering and death and for His resurrection, which
proved You accepted His sacrifice. Give us confidence in Your
forgiveness. For Jesus' sake. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Read Luke 23: 44-49.

TEXT: Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said,
"Father, into Your Hands I commit My spirit!"
(See Luke 23:46.)

Having completed the payment for all our sins, and loudly
proclaiming it to the world, there is no reason for Jesus to
continue suffering on the cross. He fulfills the prediction
He once made to the Jews, "For this reason the Father
loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up
again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My
own accord" (see John 10:17-18).

The time has now come. Luke tells us Jesus called out
with a loud voice, committed His spirit to His Father's
safe-keeping, and breathed His last.
 
His sudden death and the events that surrounded it had
a monumental impact on the people who witnessed it.
The centurion had watched many criminals die from
crucifixion-none was like Jesus. In the moments before
He died Jesus proclaimed four statements with a loud
voice: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?",
"I'm thirsty," "It is finished," and "Father, into Your
hands I commend My spirit." Crucified criminals died
from suffocation due to the accumulation of fluid in their
lungs. How could Jesus speak loudly if His lungs were
filled with fluid? And conversely, how could He suddenly
die if His lungs were empty enough to speak loudly four
times?
 
Seeing the way Jesus conducted Himself throughout His
crucifixion, the unnatural way He died, and the
miraculous signs that accompanied His death, the
centurion could reach only one conclusion: "Certainly
this man was innocent" (see Luke 23:47) and "Truly this
was the Son of God!" (See Matthew 27:54.)

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, when Your work on the cross was
done You laid down Your life. On Sunday morning You
took it back up again, rising from the dead. Give me faith
to trust You always. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Read Romans 3: 21-26.

TEXT: When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said,
"It is finished" (see John 19:30).

Jesus knew within Himself that everything was completed.
But for those who stood at the cross and looked at Him,
there was no evidence anything had changed. There was
no way to tell that God the Father had accepted Jesus'
sacrifice, no way to know this dying Man crowned with
thorns was Israel's triumphant King, or that Satan lie
crushed and hell's iron doors had been torn wide open.

Jesus wanted the world and all of us to know His mission
was complete, and that we are safe from Satan's schemes
and hell's grim thrall. So He drank the sour wine, and
proclaimed in a loud voice, "It is finished!"

Anyone living at that time who heard Jesus' word would
recognize it immediately. It was stamped on a loan when
the last payment had been made. We would translate it,
"Paid in full." Jesus was announcing He had completely
paid every last penny of the debt we owe to God for our sin.
There is nothing we can do, nothing we have to do to turn
God's anger away. There is no purgatory, no place of
suffering to make up for our sins. There is no reason for
doubts and no room for questions. Jesus has completely
satisfied God's demands, which we could never satisfy.

Our Savior spoke this sixth word so we would be certain
our sins are forgiven. He repeats this assurance in His
Word in our worship services. It is also present in the
water of Baptism that washes our sins away by the power
of God's Word. Likewise, it is in His body and blood given
in, with, and under the bread and wine of Holy Communion.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, make us sure and confident that You
have completed our salvation, and there is nothing we can
do or need to do. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)