50 Days of Wisdom

God's commentaries on the cross teach us that sin will be judged and that God will turn His back on sinners. The first miracle of supernatural darkness shows God's judgment. The second miracle, sovereign departure, shows how God must turn His back on sin. And then there's a third miracle of a self-giving death. Matthew 27:50 says, "And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit." This is no fading whimper. And what does He cry? "It is finished." According to Luke, Jesus said, "Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit." Matthew 27:50 says, "And He yielded up His spirit." With that cry, He yielded up His spirit. He gave up His own life. Remember, He Himself had previously said, "No man takes My life from Me. I lay it down of Myself." He literally sent away His own life. He dismissed His own spirit as an act of His own will, voluntary death. That's miraculous because nobody controls his own death. In fact, He died so quickly that the Roman soldiers couldn't believe it. Yet, He gave up His own life. So the miracle He performed here was the willful, voluntary offering of Himself in death. No one really killed Jesus. He gave up His own life. The Jews, with all their hatred and animosity, couldn't kill Him by themselves. The Romans, with all of their torturous means, couldn't kill Him by themselves. Satan and all his demons couldn't kill Him by themselves. He gave His life. So what do we see in the cross? That this miracle is the greatest act of love the world will ever know. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Sometimes somebody might die for a good man. But nobody ever dies for wicked people. But Jesus did. So, what do you see in the miracles around the cross? You see God's judgment unleashed. You see God's holiness manifest. And you see the immensity of the love of a dying Savior. Fourthly, there's another miracle. Let's call it sanctuary devastation. Here is a miracle that took place at the moment of the Savior's death. And in this miracle, there is some profound truth revealed by God. Jesus dies; the darkness ends. The light is back. Jesus' lips are silent in death, but God speaks loudly. And He proclaims the significance of the death of His Son immediately in verse 51, "And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom." We're talking now about a very thick ornate curtain that was hanging between the holy place and the Holy of Holies in the temple, which kept everyone out except the high priest. The curtain symbolized the fact that there was no access to God. It separated the people from the presence of God. Full access to God was impossible. But, at that moment Jesus died, God Himself ripped the curtain. Not from bottom to top. It ripped from the top down. And God was saying, "The way is now open into My presence. All men have as much access to Me as a high priest ever had. All fear is gone." So, the lesson in that miracle is that redemption is accomplished, and everyone now has immediate access to God. Therefore, what does the cross mean? It's clear. God Himself is doing the commentary. The darkness shows us it is judgment on sin. The separation shows us that He must turn His holiness away from those who bear sin. The wonderful willingness of Jesus to yield up His life shows us the profound love that He has for unworthy sinners. And the ripping of the temple curtain means the way to God was opened by the death of Christ. These are God's comments on the cross. Repent and believe! GTY.org (90-93) – God's Commentary on the Cross

Today's Wisdom

Day: 1021

September 6, 2026

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Grace and peace,

My name is Mark Paul from Wauchula, Florida, and like the Apostle Peter said in 2 Peter 1:14, "I know that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent." Consequently, my goal is to leave a legacy that will continue to advance the kingdom of God long after I have departed. In other words, bear fruit for eternity. And by simply reading and sharing my free eBooks, you too become contributors to the advancement of His kingdom. Thank you for partaking in this endeavor, and I look forward to greeting you on heaven's shore.

The Truth in Love,

Mark Paul - Servant of God

Now grant, O Lord, that when the souls who read these books cast their eyes upon these lines, their minds may be illuminated and their consciences convinced and awakened, that they may see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and be converted so that You may heal them. Amen!