4-8-2025

Good Morning All,

     Matthew 27:50; “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.”

    I was watching a movie a few days ago. It was a western that was set in the desert country. Our hero was crossing the desert and, of course, ran out of water. Soon his horse dies from no water, so he has to walk. He trudges through the sand, falling down, crawling at times, almost delirious. He falls down behind a scrub brush and passes out. He wakes up the next morning and he hears voices. He peers through the brush and sees a wagon train. He calls for help, but his throat is so parched and his voice so raspy, he can barely make any noise. He is too weak to move and cannot make enough noise to be heard. The wagons are getting ready to leave but fortunately for our hero, one of the dogs finds him and rescues him.   

    Matthew tells us that Jesus cried out in a loud voice. I always find that interesting, why did he include that? Why is this fact important? I think it is important because of how Jesus was killed. He was crucified. This is a hideous way to die. You actually drown. By the way, the arms are outstretched, you do not breathe properly; you don’t exhale. When we exhale, we not only send out spent air, but we also send out moisture. So, the moisture fills our lungs, and you slowly drown. You also lose the ability to make any sound because you cannot expel air with enough force to move your vocal cords with any force. A person who is crucified would barley make a sound at the end. Yet Jesus cries out in a loud voice, how?

    Over the next couple of weeks, I hope you read or listen to the passion narrative. Jesus is arrested, he is beaten, whipped, mocked, and ultimately killed. Pay attention as you read or hear this and remember, Jesus is always in control. At no point in time is anything happening that he is not allowing. This is part of what John was saying when he quotes Jesus as saying, “no one takes my life from me, but I lay it down.” This is Matthew’s version of that. Jesus is putting an end to this. He has finished the task for which he came to do, that is to die for our sins. So, he lays down his life and cries out in a loud voice, “It is finished” (including John’s version.)

    Jesus was always in control, and he still is. Even when it looked like the devil was winning as the scribes mocked him and the soldiers spit on him, Jesus was always in control. We can find great comfort in this. There is a lot going on where you might wonder, who is in charge of this ride? We can rest assured, Jesus is, and his voice can be heard loud and clear, if you listen. When we read the Scriptures and take them to heart, we hear Jesus speaking to us, in a loud voice drowning out the voices of fear, despair, and hopelessness. We have hope, we do not have to fear; we are called to trust.

    It can be hard; the devil yells his lies loudly. But the truth of salvation brings us home. Jesus wins and he gives that victory to us, and we can hold onto this truth a tightly as we can to rest in his loving arms.

Father of all mercies, draw us into your loving arms and keep us save. Guide us by your Spirit to walk only with You so that we may walk in peace and hope. Defend all who are embattled by the devil. Keep them as the apple of your eye. In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

 Pastor Bret