Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat – Helen Dowd

April 15, 2006

It is Finished!  

Helen Dowd

 Stillness ascends upon the crowd as they watch the soldiers rip off Jesus’ garments, leaving only the meager necessities. And then the cruel procedure of the crucifixion begins. Oh the pain that wracks Jesus’ body as the nails are driven into His hands! But Jesus doesn’t utter a sound.

Jesus is nailed to the cross. The heavy vertical beam is sunk into the hole prepared for it. The jolting of the drop causes nearly unbearable pain, but as it is happening, Jesus’ lips part, and He utters a prayer. He knows that the angels are hovering, ready at an instant to help Him, but His thoughts are not on Himself at this time, they are on His tormentors. He cries out to His Father in Heaven, “Oh Father, forgive them. They know not what they are doing.”

People start to move in closer. The frenzied mobs, silenced for a few moments while the nailing procedure is going on, now begin their cries again. They taunt, “You! You so-called Son of God. If You really are God’s Son why don’t you come down from that cross?” Some of them spit towards Him. Other pick up stones and throw in His direction. Children, mimicking the adult's actions, begin hissing at Him and throwing objects toward the crosses too. And even the chief priests, the scribes and elders, as if they hadn’t already done enough to Him, begin in with their cries of mockery: “He saved others, Himself He cannot save. Let Him come down from the cross. Then we will believe Him.”

While all this hullabaloo is taking place, the soldiers snatch up Jesus’ garments and start arguing over them. They divide His clothes into four parts (John 19:23, 24), each soldier getting a fourth. But His outer robe is made out of one continuous piece of cloth, woven from top to bottom. So to settle the dispute as to who would get this unique outer garment, they decide to gamble for it, casting lots to see to whom it would belong. 

And to add insult to injury, as Jesus hangs dying on the cross, the two condemned criminals, hanging on crosses on either side of Him, begin to berate Him and curse Him, saying “If you really are Christ, the Son of God, then prove it. Save Yourself–and us” But then something happens to change the attitude of one of the thieves. Suddenly he turns on his fellow criminal and says, “Have you no fear of God, seeing we also are condemned to die? Ah yes! But we deserve to die. This Man does not. He has done nothing wrong.” Then he addresses Christ, saying, “Lord, please remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

Even if this thief had been the only sinner in the world, Christ knew that His death would be worth it. He says to the man, “Today I will see you with Me in Paradise.”

Jesus’ suffering is at its peak, but He still remains alert, His mind, as always, on others. He feels a comforting presence close to Him. Straining His eyes downwards, to the foot of the cross, He sees a large group of women huddled together, weeping. How His heart goes out to them! And then He notices that among these women is His beloved mother. He can feel her anguish. He knows how she stores things up in her heart, never letting the public know her true feelings. She is a “ponderer.” He knows the pain she would be feeling, seeing her firstborn Son suffering so. Scrutinizing the group more closely He sees His closest friend, the disciple, John. The pain he reads on his face causes Jesus to moan inwardly. He calls to him, “John, You are my faithful friend. You have been like a close brother to me. I am committing my mother into your care. Please look after her. See how she mourns.”

John, hardly able to contain his emotions, moves closer to Mary. It is then that he hears Jesus speak again. This time He says, “Woman (a title of respect), behold thy son.” John, at this point, puts a protective arm around his newly appointed mother. He takes her into his care from that time on.

It is noon, and Christ has suffered for three hours. Everything becomes dark. It is an eerie darkness, a darkness which affects even Christ. Has God turned His back on His Own Son? Yes. But not because of anything Christ has done. It is because at this time, the sins of mankind are laid upon Him. And God cannot look at sin. Christ feels so alone. So deserted. He can stand it no longer. He cries out, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani,” which being interpreted is: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” The cry, not seeming to come from a weakened Man, rings out across the valley. All those who are standing around hear it, adding to the fear that has fallen on them by the unusual and untimely darkness (which lasted three hours.)

And then another anguishing cry rings out, “I thirst.” A soldier comes with a sponge dipped in sour wine. He gives it to Jesus to drink. And then Christ’s last cry rings out, making the people cringe: “It is finished! Into Thy hands I commit My Spirit.” At last the awaiting angels can escort their Lord to Paradise. Christ’s ordeal on the cross is over.

 The horrible, but glorious day at Calvary was over. By His death on the cross Christ finished the work of redemption, and salvation is open for all who will accept it.

www.occupytillicome.com

hmdowd@telus.net

Helen Dowd

Email address: hmdowd@telus.net

Website: www.occupytillicome.com

Bio

Helen Dowd enjoys spending time at her computer, along side her husband of 48 years, writing poetry, story poems, stories about pets and life in general, as well as inspirational and Bible stories. Her writings can be found on her website: www.occupytillicome.com. She has recently had a book published  – If You Only Knew!—a story of courage and faith, taking place during the Great Depression and beyond.  It can be viewed by pressing on the banner on the front page of her website.