The Cross

"At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people." This reads like a novel, doesn't it? This scenario is a description, an eye witness accounting for what happened the moment Jesus gave up His spirit while hanging on the cross. I say the cross, but there were many of them, including the ones on either side of  him, as He hung, crucified, nailed there like a common criminal. Crucifixion was a common practice when the Romans ruled the world and many died in a similar fashion. What is my point, you ask? How come, why, I ask you, do we know One man, associate this One historical figure from 2000 years ago with this form of cruel death sentence? "When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God." Note the word guarding...Guarding Jesus, that guy, up there, the one brutally beaten and nailed through the hands and feet to a wooden cross? What was a Roman centurion doing guarding a dying man? There was a three hour eclipse as Jesus hung, mid day. The criminals to the right, to the left of Him, they died that day too. So what, I mean so what? Am I irritating you, does this story agitate your sensibilities, does it just not measure up? Good, I hope it doesn't make logical sense to you because you are a mere human being and cannot comprehend the all powerfulness of God Almighty. Jesus is the only one we EVER think of when we see a cross. His name is the one used in reverence and as a curse. Jesus' life and death stopped and started time and our calendar reflects this demarcation in the forms of A.D and B.C. Don't believe in Him as God, The Son of God? Even this, your freedom of will is a gift from Him because despite His power, He never forced anyone to love Him, to follow Him in fact He asked this while hanging on the cross and looking down on the soldiers that put Him there "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." The Centurion, the one that proclaimed Jesus the Son of God, after His death, that guy saw something and was astounded by it. Jesus, the Lamb of God, slain for the sins (and sinners of this world), these are the mysteries that become beautiful gifts when faith in Him, His life, ministry, miracles, death and resurrection become life's foundation and reason for being. Stir it up, Little Darling, Stir it up...Bob Marley and I, we like to stir it up...One Life, One Life, Your God to choose.