Holy God. Holy Man.
Wholly God. Wholly Man.
The dust swirled about their feet and spiraled upward as the unseen tempest began to roar. It was a tempest of the heart — a gut-wrenching revelation that would change the world. But … they mocked and cackled and cast their self-righteous stones upon the One who came to open their eyes to see and know God.
And the dust continued to swirl.
This Holy God, Holy Man … How Could it Be?
He made His way along the narrow road, this Man for whom the tempest roared. Blood from the savage beating dripped into the swirling dust. A crown of thorns dug deep into His flesh, salty sweat stinging as it riveted into the piercings along His brow. He stumbled beneath the weight of the cross resting on His shoulder, dragging a dusty forever trail toward Calvary.
“Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” Obscenities flew through gritted teeth. A few people cast stones as He passed. Others wept.
“Isn’t this the man who healed Jairus’ daughter?” “I know Him…He made the blind man see.” “He made me laugh and understand the things of God.” “My boy … He healed my boy. This is Jesus of Nazareth!”
And the dust continued to swirl as the unseen tempest began to roar.
Peter and John slipped through the crowd keeping in step with Jesus. Andrew called to them. Matthew and James waved frantically, desperate to join up with the men who had become their brothers. The crowd shoved and pushed like a tidal wave of scorn while Roman soldiers fought back.
Against the stone wall at the top of the hill stood Mary. Her body crumpled, her face wet with tears as her son, bloodied for the sake of mankind, staggered beyond her reach.
“Jesus … Jesus,” Mary called. Jesus turned His face toward the familiar voice. Their eyes locked in understanding. Tears escaped in love. “Jesus,” she whispered as she cast her eyes on the dust swirling about her. “My precious Jesus.”
Holy God. Holy Man.
Wholly God. Wholly Man.
This, her Son, Jesus.
Mary pondered the ways of God in her heart.
He was despised and rejected—
a Man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.
Yet it was our weaknesses He carried;
it was our sorrows that weighed Him down.
And we thought His troubles were a punishment from God,
a punishment for His own sins!
But He was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.” ~ Isaiah 53: 3-5, NLT
And All the While, the Dust Swirled
The nails pierced through His wrists and feet, His body hoisted high upon the Cross. The accused was a holy God. Holy Man. People gasped. Jesus groaned and looked heavenward. “Forgive them Father for they do not know what they do.”
And all the while, the dust swirled about the feet of His disciples, and the hearts of His accusers, continuing to spiral upward as the unseen tempest began to roar. It was a tempest of the heart — a gut-wrenching revelation that would change the world.
“It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
Selah
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Thank you so much for stopping by. I would love for you to share what’s on your heart in the comments below. Scroll a little farther down and you’ll see where you can leave your comments. Together, we can find the nearness of God in our darkest moments.
Sweet blessings to you,
