The Greatest Love Story

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The ring of the hammer, a soft moan of pain were all that was heard. The silent crowd standing by, watching, and listening. The grunt of straining men, the cross was raised, a thump was heard as it contacted the bottom of the hole. One could almost hear the tearing sinew, as bleeding flesh pulled at the spikes now holding hands and feet. People gazed on the scene, satisfied that it was finally done. Then a hush, one of the crucified was speaking; “Father, forgive them.” What was he saying? Forgiveness? He was the one that was guilty, not them!

A discussion from the three crosses, derision from one, then to the other the words were spoken, “Today, thou shalt be with me in paradise.” A sign above the middle man’s head, “This is the king of the Jews.” Once again, a voice was heard, “Father, into thy hands.” and “It is finished.”

Darkness fell, the ground shook, graves were opened, and the greatest love story of all time was written. The soldiers went to break the condemned ones’ legs to hasten death, but he had already died; his life given, not taken. Instead, a raised spear pierced his side, and forth flowed water and blood. A voice, this time a Roman soldier, “Truly this was the Son of God.” The veil of the Temple was split from top to bottom, signifying that all could now approach the mercy seat of God.

Gentle hands wrapped his body and placed it in the tomb. A stone was placed, a guard was set, and the people thought that evil had conquered good; hope was gone. Loving hands prepared aloes and spices for the burial, and women rose before dawn on the first day of the week. Heavy hearts, and the question, “who will roll the stone away?” They neared the tomb and low it was already open. A stab of fear, wide eyes of wonder, an angel spoke, “He is not here, he is risen. Come see the place where he lay.” Hearts leap for joy, yet reel as they try to grasp the meaning of it all. One rushes to tell his disciples, the other lingers, wondering where he has gone. She sees someone, a Gardner perhaps, and asks where he was taken. Then a voice she would have recognized anywhere spoke her name, “Mary!” “Master, she cried!” “Do not touch me” he said, “Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, and to my God, and your God.” John 20:17

Today, this same Jesus is calling everyone, including you and me to come to him. He is our Lord, our Master. He who gave his life and rose from the dead is ready to give us the same power in our lives to die to self and rise in newness of life. He who conquered death and evil, will one day take his children home to paradise to live forever with him in perfect peace and love. His death and resurrection opened the way for everyone, the world over to come and experience this life in him. Many people have experienced what it can do for them, and many still need to come to know him. Some have heard the story over and over again and have never experienced what it can do for them, while for others it has lost its luster and beauty. The power is still there, whether we believe it or not, to change our lives and set us free.

A desperate plea, an honest heart, a humble prayer, will tap us into the greatest power in heaven and on earth, changing our lives. No one can manufacture it, it cannot be purchased, but it can be accepted as a gift. Let us not spurn it or squander grace but take full advantage of it. We can never know what it can and will do for us unless we give it our all. The rewards will far outweigh anything we had to give up to receive it.