Truth For The Moment:

The Cries of Anguish and of Suffering

It’s amazing how much the attentive student can learn from the experience of Christ on Calvary. As we follow Erwin Lutzer’s account of the crucifixion and his insights into the words of Jesus, the grace that pours out is truly life changing.

As I studied this week, I was faced with two piercing questions. First, spiritually speaking: If I were a plant what kind of plant would I be? Would I be a cactus that could go months without water or would I be a pond lily that would shrivel and die without the constant preeminence of water? Secondly: If Christ defeated darkness so that I can “walk in the light as He is in the light,” why do I find myself so often fumbling around in the dark?

The answer to both of these questions is right in front of us this week. On day one, Lutzer had us read Matthew 27:45-46. Then he asked this question: “What phenomenon occurred while Jesus hung on the cross?” The answer: The righteous Son of God took on all of mankind’s unrighteousness! Wow, this feat is totally impossible for you and me. We would have to be able to eternally suffer the penalty of the sin which is against us. Oh, how we needed a Savior!

What is it about darkness we fear? What is it about going thirsty we dread? The thought that paralyzes us is our inability to conjure up true thirst quenching, spiritually satisfying water. It’s our inability to produce light which has the capability to dispel darkness. However, when we realize, understand and believe that this is exactly what Christ came to accomplish for us, we can “let go and let God.” Now, we can begin to experience the fullness of the cross! It is from this listening vantage that the cries from the cross begin to mean something.

Lord help me this week to not devalue what your Son accomplished at Calvary by manufacturing my own light and striving to quench my own thirst. Help me stay out of the way and allow you to be my Savior! Remembering, by His stripes I am healed.

In His Service,

Pastor Barry