The order of the crucifixion is as follows: The arrival at Golgotha; The Offer of the Drugged Wine is Refused; Jesus utters the first cry from the cross, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."; The soldiers part His garments; The Jews mock Jesus; The theives mock Jesus but one repents and is saved; The Second cry from the cross,"Today, you shall be with me in Heaven"; The Third Cry,"Woman Behold your son; The Darkness; The Fourth Cry, "My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?"; The Fifth Cry, "I Thirst"; The Sixth Cry,"It is Finished!"; The Seventh Cry, " Father, into Your hands I commend My Spirit"; Our Lord Dismisses His Spirit.
The greatest of these miracles was the accompishment of a perfect salvation for a sinful and sinning race. It took a miracle of grace to provide redemption for a world of sinners who were lost and ruined by the fall of Adam. At Calvary, we behold this miracle. The purpose of it was to work the tremendous miracle of man's emancipation from sin's penalty and power. All of the miracles He performed while in the flesh were but mirrors, each reflecting it's own angle, of His great mediatorial and redemptive work. The creation of the world only cost Him His breath, it's redemption cost Him His Blood.
Apart form the miracle of salvation accomplished through the Cross, it remains what it always was, in itself, a base, contemptable thing, utterly incapable of imparting either life or blessing. But Christ, by His death on a cross, transformed it's vileness into victory!
There are multitudes in Heaven and on earth who are rejoicing the marvel of divine grace exhibited at Calvary.
All of theology could be condensed into four simple words, "He Died For Me."
The next miracle at the Cross was that of the miracle of prophecy, fulfilling in the parting of and the gambling for His garments. The manifold coincidences of the language of the psalmist, (ps 22:18), with the facts of the Passion are impressive. Scripture was again fulfilled when Jesus cried, 'I Thirst',(Ps 69:21) He had refused the usual stuplifying drink at the moment of the crucifixion. His Holy mind was clear as He offered Himself as the substitute for our sin. When all was accomplished and the moment of His release from death was at hand, He sought the relief from the physical agony of thirst caused by His wounds. Even in the cruel events of that day, His mind was on the prophetic Word. In God's Law, He had meditated day and night and now that Law comforts His broken heart.
Other miracles of prophecy are seen in the fact that He was numbered among His transgressors. This is one of the few times that Mark relates happenings concerning prophecy. (Mk 15:28) Then we have His bones being spared from being broken, (Ps 34:20) Another is fulfilled as the crowd gazed at Him on the Cross. "They shall look on Him whom they have pierced."
A further miracle at Calvary was the darkness that covered the land from noon until three in the afternoon. Such unusual darkness was nature's sympathy with it's suffering Lord, and also another fulfillment of prophecy. (Amos 8:9)
At His birth, the darkness of night was turned into the brightest of Glory. Such darkening of the Sun was an omen of "the great and terrible Day of Our Lord. (Joel 2:31,32)
The outward darkness symbolized the inward darkness Jesus was experiencing through the withdrawall of His Father's presence. But this horror of great darkness was but a passing shadow.
Then there was the miracle of the blood and water flowing from the pierced side of Jesus. John relates this incident with the solemn affirmation and the authoraity of an eye witness. Christ literally died of a broken heart over the sin of the world. This was the "double cure."
As Jesus died on the Cross there was the miracle of self-abnegation for He not only died for sin, He died to self; The miracle of His grief for His dear mother, the manifestation of His Divine Power in forgiving the thief, who was the first trophy of the efficiency of His shed Blood. At the moment of His greatest weakness, He was able to save, to the uttermost, the repentant soul turning to Him for forgiveness!
The last tremendous miracle is seen when He dimissed His own spirit. Augustine says. "He gave up His life because He willed it, when He willed it, and as He willed it." His life was not taken, it was given. Both His death and resurrection were at His own command. It is because of the committal of His spirit to God, that grace can be ours to resign our spirits also in the hope of our final exodus.
The multiplication of so many miracles had an overwhelming effect upon the Roman soldier who confessed that the man who had died on the Cross was indeed, "The Son Of God!"
The Cross brings all people to Christ!
Praise Be To God!!!
The personal work of Jesus in the winning of disciples, in His work with Nicodemus, and with the Sychar Woman. In this work we see the effect of finding Jesus in the changing of lives and how, once we have found Him, we bring others to Him, we gain knowledge of the power of being re-born, and the sustaining of the Spirit and the meaning of true worship.