Never fails to catch my heart. Luminous words about the Savior. Back in the major and minor prophets.
Mystery to the listeners.
But revealed to us in the New Testament and the coming of Christ.
Today, consider Isaiah 64 and Israel’s prayer.
If only
“If only you would tear the heavens open and come down. So that mountains would quake at Your presence–just as fire kindles brushwood, and fire boils water—to make your name known to your enemies, so that nations will tremble at your presence.”
Isaiah 64:1-2
Vivid words. Spoken to the God of the universe.
Answered. In a way they didn’t see coming.
Jesus came
Many years later.
After the prophets.
After 400 years of silence. When no prophetic word was spoken.
In the fullness of time, Jesus came.
He made disciples. Taught the multitudes. Angered the religious elite. They eventually arrested Him.
So, one Friday, He hung on that cross. The perfect Lamb of God. Dying for the sins of all. All who would believe.
The curtain
And it was then. Something beyond understanding happened.
He cried out. In a loud voice. Giving up His spirit. Dying as the sacrifice for our sin.
In that instant. At the specific moment of His death. The curtain in the sanctuary tore. From top to bottom.
Which curtain?
The one separating the people from the Holy of Holies. From the heaven of His Presence. From the mercy seat.
Tore
From top to bottom. The curtain, the veil, tore.
And the earth quaked.
Rocks split.
Tombs opened.
The centurion and those with him. Keeping watch over Jesus at the cross. Were terrified.
Resurrected Savior
The proclamation from their lips that day was a declaration of the truth.
Truth changing history.
Truth changing everything.
“Surely this man was the Son of God.”
Yes.
And the One who died that day was buried in a tomb. And rose on the third day.
Resurrected Savior.
Alleluia.
Related posts
Job and the hope of Easter – Look for the living – Living hope – Resurrection – Redeemed – Dare to hope –
Isaiah 64:1-2 – Matthew 27:45-65 – Matthew 28:1-7 –
4 replies on “Savior”
I am often aware that my limited by time & space heart cannot pray or dream of God’s bigger plans! I’m so grateful that He doesn’t limit His work to our requests!
Yes and Amen.
Your meditation this week was a beautiful punctuation for a blessed Easter, Susan. As you are a poet (and have been a good one since high school, as I know, you would like the poem that was on our Easter bulletin at our Presbyterian church in Washington: it’s “Emmaus 2” by Malcolm Guite: The octave begins “We thought that everything was lost and gone,” but I want to quote the whole sestet that follows: “Oh foolish foolish heart why do you grieve?/ Here is good news and comfort to your soul:/ Open your mind to scripture and believe/ He bore the curse for you to make you whole/ The living God was numbered with the dead/ That he might bring you Life in broken bread.”
Oh, so beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing, dear Ellie.