BEHOLD THE CROSS: BY CYNTHIA ABEGAIL

At noon, the whole country was covered with darkness,

which lasted for three hours. At three o'clock, Jesus cried

out with a loud shout, "Eloi, Eloi,lema sabachthani?" which

means, "My God, my God, why did you abandon me?"...

With a loud cry, Jesus died. The curtain hanging in the

Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The army

officer who was standing there in front of the cross saw

how Jesus has died. "This man was really the Son of God!"

he said.

Mk 15: 33-39



Reflection

The darkness over the whole land stresses the importance

of this time of salvation of humanity. It also alludes to

Amos 8:9... "The time is coming when I will make the sun

go down at noon and the earth grow dark at daytime, I the

Sovereign Lord has spoken." The story takes place in the

fulfillment of the divine purpose as disclosed in the Old

Testament.



Jesus goes out in extreme agony, "My God, my God, why

have you abandoned me?" This is a very touching moment

of the Crucifixion of Jesus. The most precious blood had

flowed for salvation, as Christians attest and believe.



Mark wrote about the rending of the Temple curtain in two.

This is the veil which covers the Holy of Holies, where God

dwelled from the perspective of the Old Testament. The only

person who can enter this sacred place is the high priest. He

interceded for the nation during the Day of Atonement. The

torn veil is significant because Mark is stressing that now,

all have access to God via the death of Jesus. It is the end of

the Temple cult.



All fall short of the glory of God. The good news is: All have

access to God. Jesus made it possible, but faith and trust in

Him is needed.



Have a Spirit-filled Holy Week!

Cynthia Abegail