His Final Steps Led to Death

It is a final step we all share. We have shared it with the entire human race ever since the first sin ripped apart the perfect relationship between God and the people he created. Death. Separation. God and people were separated, and as a result and a consequence, human bodies and souls would be separated. We would not live forever.

In fact, without God stepping in, we would die forever. Separation from God would never end.

So God stepped in. He stepped in with a promise. He promised a Savior, a crusher-of-the-head of the serpent who had tempted people. But even in the promise was a warning and a reminder. The Savior would be wounded, too. We have seen his wounds tonight. And now we remember how our final step becomes his final step. His true human body was separated from his true human soul. In the person of Jesus Christ, God died for his people. And even the rocks and the tombs felt the result and testified to what had happened. So did the people who had seen these events most closely.

Matthew 27:50-54 (EHV)

50After Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51Suddenly, the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and rocks were split. 52Tombs were opened, and many bodies of saints who had fallen asleep were raised to life. 53Those who came out of the tombs went into the holy city after Jesus’ resurrection and appeared to many people. 54When the centurion and those who were guarding Jesus with him saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”

Response

We all have gone astray like sheep. Each of us has turned to his own way, but the Lord has charged all our guilt to him. (Isaiah 53:6)

PIANO SOLO: Near the Cross

This piano piece includes the melodies of three hymns, “Go to Dark Gethsemane,” which we sang earlier, “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross,” and “Beneath the Cross of Jesus.” Two hymn stanzas are printed here for your meditation.

The sixth candle is extinguished.