The purpose of God in the history of man was accomplished when Jesus breathed his last upon the cross. The cry, "It is finished!" was not the mere gasp of a wornout life; it was not the cry of satisfaction with which a career of pain and sorrow is terminated; it was the deliberate utterance of a clear consciousness on the part of God's appointed Revealer that now all had been done that could be done to make God known to men and to identify him with men. God's purpose had ever been one and indivisible-declare to men in various ways, a hint here, a broad light there, now by a gleam of insight in the mind of a prophet, now by a deed of heroism in king or leader, through rude symbolic contrivances and through the tenderest of human affections and the highest human thoughts, God had been making men ever more and more sensible that his one purpose was to come closer and closer into fellowship with them, and to draw them into a perfect harmony with him. Forgiveness and deliverance from sin were provided for them, knowledge of God's law and will, thus they might learn to know and to serve him-all these were secured when Jesus cried, "It is finished!"
from Footsteps in the Path of Life by Marcus Dods (A Guide to Prayer, The Upper Room)
2 comments:
Yes, it's similar in Estonian! "Suur" can mean both "big" (as in size, like a big Coca-Cola!) or "great". Last year, we wondered why they would call it "Big Friday". With a little bit better understanding of the language, now we get that it is "Great Friday" (like "Peter the Great"!). :-)
It was last Good Friday when we fled like refugees in the night and you put us up! Thank you, dear sister.
Wow! I can't believe it's a year - and what a year for all of us. God has been gracious and the Provider, hasn't He? Evie
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