Untitled (written 2007)

A man. Nail to a tree. A crown of thorns. And blood everywhere.

And yet... yet, this is all we can see. While the crucifixion is horrible to behold, the truly frightening scene is happening in heaven.

This Man. This One drenched in Purity and Beauty, Loveliness Divine. This is the Son of God. The Prince of Peace. Complete Perfection.

But something has changed.

As He hangs from the tree, His very soul is suddenly stained. A black mark grows, while generation after generation's horrific disgusting sin soaks into it. From every white lie to every unuttered heinous act, this Son of God is, in a moment, the ultimate target of the wrath of His Almighty Father. Everything that once cried "HOLY!" is now defiled and disfigured.

The Father turns away. His heart breaks. And yet it must be done. He lets loose the full fury of his righteous anger.

The Son of God writhes in anguish. Never had He felt the Father's wrath. Truly, this was hell. He screams in torture to the heavens:

My God, my God! Why have you forsaken me?!

Silence.

Yes, the physical pain of the cross is horrific. But it cannot compare to the sheer agony and suffering of His soul. After many long and terrifying hours, He lets out a final cry:

Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit!

The Son of God breathes His last breath.

It is over. The act is finished.

The Son of the Almighty King is dead. Only one things remains. He is carried down from the cross and buried. Mourned over.

But something else is happening, ready to be revealed at the right time. It has all of heaven watching entranced.

The resurrection.

The Son of God defeating death. He burst forth on that Glorious Day, clothed in Majesty, indescribable. Reconciled to the Father, reining over all heaven and earth.

The final debt is paid.

The ransom fulfilled.

Our eternity ensured.



For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die — but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Romans 5:6-11