March 7, 2018 - THE DARKNESS OF HELL

Day 66 - (Today’s Bible readings: Genesis 47:12-31; Psalm 62; Matthew 27:36–56)

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”   (Matthew 26:45-46 ESV)

The sun “disappeared” from sight and the darkness settled in for three hours. But the darkness Jesus experienced is far different from the darkness that comes between sunset and sunrise. He suffered through the darkness of hell. When He shouted out His fourth Word from the cross, He was using the words of the damned in hell.

Who can fully comprehend what occurred? Jesus, God’s own Son, is forsaken by His heavenly Father. And that is the nature of hell - eternal separation from God.

All thanks and glory be to God, Jesus was forsaken so that we may be saved. He experienced hell so that you and I will live eternally in heaven.

The hymn writer captures our response to what Jesus endured for us with these words:

(Fourth Word: Matthew 27:46)
10. Jesus, whelmed in fears unknown,
      With our evil left alone,
      While no light from heav'n is shown:
      Hear us, holy Jesus.

11. When we seem in vain to pray
      And our hope seems far away,
      In the darkness be our stay:
      Hear us, holy Jesus.

12. Though no Father seem to hear,
      Though no light our spirits cheer,
      May we know that God is near:
      Hear us, holy Jesus.
      (Jesus, in Your Dying Woes, Lutheran Service Book #447)

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for suffering hell so that I will not have to. Please grant saving faith in You for the rest of my life, so that I may enjoy eternity in heaven with You. Amen.

Pastor David Paape

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings form the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings  
Then scroll down to 2018 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless you meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!