The Darkest Hour

Even when Persians get good press for releasing hostages they should never have had, it is not our darkest hour.

When the Russians, Chinese and the rest of the world turn "realist" in the fight against evil, it is not our darkest hour.

The British, French, Germans, and the rest of Europe are doing their best appeasement -- but it is not our darkest hour.

Our darkest hour has come and gone. It took place on a hill called Golgotha, in a backward outpost of the Roman Empire.

They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"

In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' " In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah."
(NIV)

Our darkest hour came, and we didn't even know what He was saying.

But we know now that when things look their worst, there are plans at work for our good. Without a rainy day, our food will not grow. Without hardship, we are not tested. And without a Crucifixion there is no Resurrection.

For anyone serving in Iraq reading this today, let me thank you, with all my heart, for descending into hell in my place. I know you will return victorious.

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