got this on the e-mail - so thought i would share

after all is that not what this blogging is all about???


Luke 23 v 44-49
It was about noon, and the whole land became dark until three o’clock
in the afternoon, because the sun did not shine. The curtain in the
Temple was torn in two.  Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, I
give you my life.” After Jesus said this, he died.
When the army officer there saw what happened, he praised God, saying,
“Surely this was a good man!”
When all the people who had gathered there to watch saw what happened,
they returned home, beating their chests because they were so sad.
But those who were close friends of Jesus, including the women who had
followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance and watched.

Notes
There has been debate about the nature of the darkness that covered
the land after Jesus breathed his last. Was it a dust-storm? Was it an
eclipse of the sun? Does it matter? God demonstrated his grief in a
mighty noticeable way! And back inside the City of Jerusalem, suddenly
the curtain which covered the “holy of holies” was shred in half from
top to bottom.

From what we know of the Temple, this would have been physically
impossible for any human to carry out. And the point? God was now
saying, “It’s curtains for death and suffering – no more secrets, no
more need for priests and sacrifices. The way to me is open. I’m
available to you direct, because Jesus has paid the price.”

And while all this drama is happening, we read of that soldier who
simply had to declare, “Surely this was a good man.” At last, he too
recognised Jesus for who he was. But what was to become of Jesus’
followers? How might Jesus’ friends and family be left feeling? What
of their faith and belief now? They stayed at the cross and watched,
no doubt stunned and exhausted by what they’d seen. The faithful
remained, and some of them would see him again.

What do we do when our faith is shattered by circumstances out of our
control? Do we stay and watch or do we turn away from the cross,
declaring that it’s all over? It’s a good job we know the amazing
ending to the Easter story. It’s true that Jesus died, but his death
was just the beginning.

Prayer
Father, it’s hard to put into words how I feel when I think about the
cross. What I can say, however, is thank you for Jesus. Thank you that
through his death I can live with you for ever. Amen