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Chapter 27
79
of the pillars of Satan’s kingdom, and passed through the conflict,
destroying him that had the power of death. A way was now opened
whereby mercy and truth could meet together, and righteousness and
peace kiss each other (
Manuscript 111, 1897
).
38 (
Mark 15:27
;
Luke 23:33
;
19:18
). Christ Placed as Most
Notorious Criminal
—Joseph and Nicodemus watched every devel-
opment at the condemnation and crucifixion of Christ. Not an action
escaped them. These men were diligent searchers of the Scriptures,
and they were deeply indignant as they saw this man, whom the
[1108]
judges had pronounced to be entirely without fault, placed in the
center of two thieves, “on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.”
This instruction had been given by the chief priests and rulers, that
by his position all might judge that Christ was the most notorious of
the three (
Manuscript 103, 1897
).
42
. See
EGW comment on Luke 24:13-15
.
45 (
Mark 15:33
;
Luke 23:44
). In Sympathy and Confirma-
tion
—The darkness upon the face of nature expressed her sympathy
with Christ in His expiring agony. It evidenced to humanity that the
Sun of Righteousness, the Light of the world, was withdrawing His
beams from the once favored city of Jerusalem, and from the world.
It was a miraculous testimony given of God, that the faith of after
generations might be confirmed (
The Spirit of Prophecy 3:167
).
God and Angels Clothed in Darkness
—The dark cloud of hu-
man transgression came between the Father and the Son. The in-
terruption of the communion between God and His Son caused a
condition of things in the heavenly courts which cannot be described
by human language. Nature could not witness such a scene as Christ
dying in agony while bearing the penalty of man’s transgression.
God and the angels clothed themselves with darkness, and hid the
Saviour from the gaze of the curious multitude while He drank the
last dregs of the cup of God’s wrath (
Letter 139, 1898
).
45, 46 (
verse 54
;
Mark 15:33, 34, 39
;
Luke 23:46, 47
;
John
19:30
). Circumstances Sowed Seed
—The conviction forced upon
many at the time of Christ’s trial, at the time when the three hours’
darkness enshrouded the cross, without any natural cause for it, and
when the last sentences were uttered, “My God, my God, why hast
thou forsaken me?” “It is finished,” “Into thy hands I commend my
spirit,” was seed sown that ripened into harvest when at a future date