WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES.
“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 (NIV)
It was the darkest day in history. From noon until 3 p.m., typically the lightest part of the day, darkness descended from heaven. God had forsaken His one and only Son.
The Bible tells us that “Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Think about that. Jesus had never felt the pang of guilt and remorse due to sin because He had never sinned. Not once. But when He died on the cross, He took all the sins of the world upon Himself.
The atrocious sins of Hitler, Kim Jong II, and Pol Pot. The despicable acts of the rapist. The unspeakable deeds of the murderer. And the thing that you did last night… the thing you hope your church friends, your boss, or your spouse never finds out about.
Jesus took that sin upon Himself. He became sin.
And then He died.
The Promised One, the Redeemer, the Messiah was gone. As the old hymn goes, “Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior.”
Oh how His followers must have grieved! All hope was gone. Sure Jesus had predicted this day, but they didn’t understand. Not really. Because death is so final.
I’m sure the disciples had trouble falling asleep that night. The next day, Saturday, Jesus’ followers continued to mourn because they couldn’t imagine what was about to happen. They didn’t know what a difference a day could make.
Because with God, death is not final. There’s a bigger reality. There’s a life that comes after death.
Are you in the midst of a situation that seems hopeless? Oh friend, God is our hope. As the angel told the women at the tomb, don’t be afraid. The story doesn’t end until God says so.
Anything could happen tomorrow. Even the impossible.
THINK ABOUT IT…
What does this devotional reveal to me about God?
What does this devotional reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what can I thank God for today?
What is my prayer for today?