An innocent Man had just been put to death in a gruesome way by a rabid mob. A Wednesday noonday sky turned as black as night for three hours straight. An earthquake shook the ground, so much so that graves opened up and the dead arose!
The hearts of Jesus’ followers were broken. With Jesus dead, what were they supposed to do now? Would He live again as He had said? How could this be? Their thoughts may have been that, when all of this happened in the span of a few short hours, the end of the world was upon them. There must have been confusion and pandemonium. Fear certainly burned in the hearts of humankind. No one knew if they would see tomorrow, and rightly so.
However, it was only the beginning of a prophecy fulfillment that would change the world forever. The Saviour had paid for the sins of mankind as His blood was shed on the cross. He was now on His way to place the blood on the Mercy Seat in the presence of His Heavenly Father. There would be no more need for animal sacrifice. There would be no more ritual or replacement for achieving salvation. No! In three days, Jesus Christ would rise from the tomb. Forgiveness would be available for everyone. No one would need to wonder if they could achieve eternal life, guess that they might see God after death, or think that maybe they would get to Heaven one day. Mankind would be given the greatest gift that ever was and that ever will be: certain eternal hope!
Twice I have had the wonderful privilege to stand in the shadow of that simple hill called “Golgatha,” I thought of the blood staining the ground beneath the cross. I thought of the tears of the disciples and His other followers mingling there in the dirt only a short walk outside of the Old City walls of Jerusalem. Emotions flooded in as I considered that dark afternoon of unbelievable fear, devastation, and loss for those who loved Jesus.
Then, my thoughts went to an early Sunday morning just three days later, when the earth shook again and the stone rolled away from the tomb. I thought of the wonder in the eyes of Peter and John upon finding the empty tomb. I imagined the joy in Mary Magdalene’s soul when a risen Jesus spoke her name. Death could not keep Him! The grave could not hold Him! Sin could not conquer Him! He arose as He had said to save the world from their sins.
Today, that unimposing, rocky slope still attracts believers from around the world as a reminder of that unassuming Wednesday when the death-burial-resurrection that forever changed the history of mankind began!
“There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins,
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains:
Lose all their guilty stains,
Lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains.”
– William Cowper
by Tracie S. Burns
