The hill is quiet now. Not still, but quiet.

For the first time all day there is no noise. The clamor began to subside when the darkness-that midday darkness-fell. Like water stops a fire, the darkness stopped the ridicule. No more taunts, no more jokes, and in time no more mockers. One by one the onlookers turn and begin to leave. That is all the onlookers except you and me. We do not leave; we came to learn. So we linger in the semi-darkness and listen. We listen to the soldiers cursing, the passerbys questions and the women weeping. But most of all, we listen to the three dying men groaning. Hoarse, thirsty groans. They groan every time their heads roll or when the push up to get a precious breath of air. As the minutes become hours, their groans begin to diminish. Were it not for their labored breathing you would have thought they were dead. All of the sudden the one in the middle, you know the one, Jesus? He screams as if someone has yanked out His hair. The back of His head slams against the back of the sign that bears His name, King of the Jews. Like a dagger the scream cuts through the darkness. Standing as straight as the nails will allow He cries, Eloi! His voice is raspy and scratchy. Reflections from the torch flame dance in His eyes. My God! He screams. Ignoring the volcano of erupting pain Jesus pushes upward until His shoulders are higher than His nailed hands. Why have You forsaken Me? He cries. The soldiers stare, the women stop weeping, and one of the Pharisees sneers sarcastically and says He is calling for Elijah. No one answers. Jesus has just shouted a question to the heavens and you half expect an answer. Apparently Jesus heard an answer because His face softens and an afternoon dawn breaks as He says It is finished. Father into Your hands I commit My Spirit. As He gives His final breath, the earth gives a sudden stir. A rock rolls and a soldier stumbles. Then, as suddenly as the silence was broken, the silence returns. And now all is quiet again. The mocking has ceased. There is no one to mock. The soldiers begin the task of taking down the dead. Two well-dressed men arrive and ask for Jesus body. All we are left with is the relics of His death. Three nails in a bin, three cross-shaped shadows and a braided crown of thorns with scarlet tips. Bizarre isnt it? The thought that this blood is not mans blood, but Gods? Crazy isnt it? To think that these three nails held your sins to the cross. Absurd dont you agree?

If we had wrote the entire scene, it would have been different. Ask us how we think God should redeem His world and we would show you-white horses, flashing swords, Satan flat on his back and God on His throne. The End. But God on a cross? A split-lipped, puffy-eyed, blood-masked God on a cross? God mocked, a spear stabbed in His side, dice tossed at His feet as the soldiers gambled for His clothes? No, we wouldnt have written it that way, but then again we werent asked to. However, we have been asked to respond to it. In order for the cross to changes us, we need to bring something to the cross. We have seen what Jesus brought-with nail scarred hands He offered forgiveness, through torn skin He promised acceptance. He took this path to take us home. He wore our garment of sin to give us His garment of holiness. We have seen the gifts he brought. Now, what will we bring? We werent asked to paint the sign, carry the nails, wear the spit or bear the crown. But we were asked to walk the path and leave something at the cross. Many have done what we have done-read about the cross, heard about the cross and even thought about the cross. But have you thought about what to leave at the cross? You have seen and heard what Jesus left. Wont you leave something as well? How about those bad habits? That pride? Those white lies? Maybe leave some hate? Greed? Stealing? Cheating? Unforgiveness? Fear? Worry? Unbelief? God wants it all. He wants us to leave our sins, worries and even our hidden thoughts at the cross. Romans 11:27-This is my commitment to My people: removal of their sins. Matthew 11:28-Come to Me all of you who are weary and burdened and I will give You rest. Romans 6:1-2- What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Romans 6:10-11-The death He died, He died to sin once and for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. In the same way, count yourself dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Isaiah 53:4-6-Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him and afflicted. He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him and by His wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned our own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

God does more than forgive our sins. He removes them. We simply have to take them to Him. He not only wants the sins we have committed; he wants those we are making now. Are you making some? Are you telling those little white lies? Are you not living as He has called you to live? If so, dont pretend nothing is wrong. Dont pretend you are perfect. Go to God. Romans 3:23-For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 1 John 1:9-If we confess our sins to God, He can always be trusted to forgive us and take away our sins. What can you leave at the cross? Your worries? Your sins? Run your thumb over the tips of the spear used to pierce Jesus side. Balance a nail in the palm of your hand. Read the wooden sign. And as you do, touch the velvet dirt, moist with the blood of Jesus. Blood He shed for you. The spear He took for you. The nails He felt for you. The sign He left for you. He did it all for you. Knowing this, knowing all He did for you there. Isnt there something you need to take to the cross?