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Jesus Dies on Calvary
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Satan with fierce temptations wrung the heart of Jesus. Hope
did not present to Him His coming forth from the grave a conqueror
or tell Him of the Father’s acceptance. Christ felt the anguish the
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sinner will feel when mercy shall no longer plead for the guilty race.
It was the sense of sin, bringing the Father’s wrath on Him as man’s
substitute, that broke the heart of the Son of God.
The hosts of heaven veiled their faces from the fearful sight. The
sun refused to look on the awful scene. Its full, bright rays were
illuminating the earth at midday, when suddenly it seemed to be
blotted out. Complete darkness enveloped the cross. “There was
darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.” There was no natural
cause for this darkness, which was as deep as midnight without
moon or stars. It was a miraculous testimony given by God that the
faith of after generations might be confirmed.
In that thick darkness God’s presence was hidden. God and holy
angels were beside the cross. The Father was with His Son. Yet His
presence was not revealed. In that dreadful hour Christ was not to
be comforted with the Father’s presence.
In the thick darkness God veiled the last human agony of His
Son. All who had seen Christ in His suffering had been convicted of
His divinity. Through long hours of agony He had been gazed on by
the jeering multitude. Now He was mercifully hidden by the mantle
of God.
A nameless terror held the throng gathered about the cross. Curs-
ing and reviling ceased. Vivid lightnings occasionally flashed from
the cloud and revealed the crucified Redeemer. Priests, rulers, exe-
cutioners, the mob, all thought their time of retribution had come.
Some whispered that Jesus would now come down from the cross.
At the ninth hour the darkness lifted from the people, but still
enveloped the Saviour. No eye could penetrate the deep gloom that
enshrouded the suffering soul of Christ. Then “Jesus cried with a
loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God,
My God, why has Thou forsaken Me?” Many voices exclaimed: The
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vengeance of heaven is upon Him because He claimed to be the Son
of God! Many who believed on Him heard His despairing cry. Hope
left them. If God had forsaken Jesus, in what could His followers
trust?