Six Hours - What was Jesus Thinking?

Six Hours

by Amber Stephens

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Six hours. 

Six hours nailed to a cross.

Six hours to feel the sting of the wood beneath His bleeding, ravaged back.

Six hours of listening to those who mocked Him, those who spit at His feet and gambled for His clothes.

Six hours of labored breath, each one causing Him intense pain as He had to push downward on His nailed feet just to inhale.

Six hours to think, feel and stare into the broken sorrowful eyes of His mother.

Six hours listening to the men who hung on either side of Him.

Every second seeming like an eternity as He hung there, desperately waiting for death to come.

I often wonder what kept Him there.  Besides the nails of course, which would've been no match for Him if He had decided to stop His own death.  But He didn't.

The answer to that question is Love.  Love kept Him there.  Love endured for six hours of excruciating pain.  But could there be another reason?  Was love the only thing on His mind?

In the span of 3 years He preached, taught and encouraged all the people who would listen.  Knowing full well the outcome of His journey's purpose, He still moved forward. When He was fearful, He prayed, but He did not stop.  Three years of intense conversations with His Father in Heaven regarding the plan.

So I wonder, what He had been thinking during His six hours on that wooden cross.  Was He thinking about His love for you and me?  Absolutely.  Love for His Father, His family and friends?  Most assuredly!  

But maybe something else kept Him there as well.   Is it possible that in His despair, He had time to converse (even if just in His mind) with His old adversary the devil?  Could it be that He endured that horrible death not only because He was doing the will of His Father, but also because He knew that His very act of sacrifice would squash the plans of the enemy to destroy those He loved?  That maybe, just maybe, as He hung there for six hours He had time to whisper to him..."you lose", "for they are MINE!"  Oh how I want to believe how that very thought may have brought just a moment of joy to His suffering.  You see, wrapped inside His love is one word that we don't give enough heed to. One word that every human knows exists when you love someone.  One word that is a byproduct of love so to speak.  That word is...Protection.  We protect those we love!

For six hours His love held Him in place because He was protecting us from His enemy.   Giving us victory over evil and death!  Giving us a way out.  In those six hours, His immense love conquered ALL things, even Satan, who takes hold of us and does his best to keep us from the Father. 

Yes, I imagine that as Jesus hung there for six long, tortuous hours, that maybe at some point He had a moment of sweet satisfaction knowing certain plans of His old foe were forever being defeated as He drew His last breath.

Six hours.

What precious hours.

What life altering hours for you and me.

Opening the doors to eternity.

Perfect, flawless love and protection displayed for all to see.

Six hours.

Then all earth trembled.

Mourned.

Wondered.

Questioned.

But three days later....

Just three days...

Sweet resurrection.

Redemption.

Hope for all mankind.

Yes, what LOVE!

Happy Resurrection Day friends!