Great is our God!

As I sit and think about things, we can easily get into the mode of asking,  why?  The fact of the matter is, sometimes we don't have the answers, and we sometimes never will. The fact of the matter is, sometimes the answer doesn't really need to come. Sometimes we just need to turn our focus off of us, and onto HIM! Today I am going to do just that. In years past I have asked God for a new revelation of Him during the Easter season. I have been raised in the church and have heard the story many times, and I have and always will believe the story to be true and to be the redemption of mankind! I think that at times, that we forget it is also OUR redemption story of Gods love not just to mankind but to US! We forget to make it a personal love story, one that should always bring us to our knees in thanks, in admiration, in hope and in a forgiving heart. In that one day on the cross so much was accomplished by God. In this one day on the cross Jesus felt so much pain, abandonment, rejection, the subject of mockery, betrayal, and I am sure he felt the weight of our sin on His shoulders. The sin of the ages... Just think of the pain that you alone went through in life and your life is still going and multiply that by all the people that ever lived! That is a great GREAT weight! It says in the account of Jesus' death that He cried out to God "My God, why have you abandoned me!?" I know that we have felt like this from time to time as well. That someone in our life has abandoned us, and this was Jesus, the son of God who felt like this.
In the moments after Jesus' death there were certain things that happened. I have to say that the things that happened would have either scared me to death or would have made me a believer right then and there if I was there.
 Matthew 27: ^51-53At that moment, the Temple curtain was ripped in two, top to bottom. There was an earthquake, and rocks were split in pieces. What's more, tombs were opened up, and many bodies of believers asleep in their graves were raised. (After Jesus' resurrection, they left the tombs, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.) 
Reading the above verses makes me think of what everyone there would have thought. 


The first thing that happened was the Temple curtain was ripped in two, from top to bottom. This is important thing that happened. The curtain was the separation of the holy of hollies and the most holy place which only the high priest was able to enter. This gave us as just regular access to God. Not through another person like in the Old Testament, but we ourselves can talk to God face to face, and enter into His presence because of Jesus' work on the cross. This is an amazing thing to think about! Think about it.... God's presence was behind that veil, and when Jesus died on the cross that veil ripped. It was like God grabbed it, ripped it and let His presence out to be among the people! He was no longer trapped behind a curtain where only one person (the high priest) had access. Now God had personal access with all His children! Jesus made this possible through making His body the final perfect sacrifice! There was no need to sacrifice a spotless lamb since now, the perfect son of God had taken the sins of the world on Himself and made God accessible to all! 
The next thing that happened was an earthquake and rocks split into pieces. This you might not think is an amazing thing but if you think about it for a bit, at this time the Jewish people, Israel,  were against Jesus  and rejected Him and the Romans were against Jesus, all mocking Him. They did not yet recognize Jesus as the savior or Messiah. But Even though people were mocking Jesus and not recognizing the authority that Jesus had, the Earth always recognized. It says in the Bible that if we don't praise God that the rock will! I think that in some way this was the earth crying out for the Messiah. Creation always recognized Jesus. Jesus hushed the storm, quieted the waves, water turned to wine, fish and bread multiplied, Jesus was able to walk on water, the wind stopped when He spoke. Creation always listened and responded to Jesus. Was Jesus' death a traumatic event for God's creation? The creator breathed His last and the earth shook and trembled at the moment He died; it instantly felt the loss. 
The next thing that happened would have been an amazing sight to see! I don't know what I would have done if I were there at the time. But it is amazing to think of these events that revolve around the death of our savior. The veil tore, the earthquake, the rocks split and then the bodies of believers that came to life. Did this account happen because the veil ripped and God was free to be among the people for the first time? There was so much power and presence released at once that even the dead believers rose from death?? There is so many thoughts on this portion, but we can still look at it and say that we serve an amazing God. The events that surround Jesus' death are amazing to say the least. We serve a loving, all powerful God. Who took the place for our sins and who wants to have an intimate relationship with us! How great is our God! This story doesn't end at the cross but its just the beginning! Jesus rose to live forever more and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He sent the Holy Spirit to help us, direct us, and comfort us! The trinity seen in great and awesome power! Remember why we celebrate Easter and that it is not just another story or another day, but it is a great day that our God paid the price for our sins so that we may have eternal life!!!