It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:31

No one knew this better than Christ on Good Friday. He predicted the moment: the Son of man must suffer and die.

In the garden of Gethsemane he wept over the moment. He asked, if it was God’s will, to take this moment away. Not the betrayal. Not the abandonment. Not the arrest. Not the interrogations. Nor the mocking, spitting, or scourging.

He himself said “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Jesus feared the moment the cross was raised and the sky darkened and the creator of the universe — the other wholly being with the power to create the vast universe with billions of galaxies — unleashed his wrath.

Not on the world, but the singular and innocent person Jesus Christ. God in the flesh.

We can get a sense of the intensity of this wrath when we picture that power which created the universe is channeled into wrath. And then remember that Jesus was to suffer the wrath reserved for all sinners — past, present, and future.

No wonder his cage was rattled.

But because of Jesus Christ believers will never experience this wrath. And for that we should fall on our knees in praise.

Fairest Lord Jesus

Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Thee will I cherish, thee will I honor,
Thou, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown.

Fair are the meadows, fair are the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring:
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
Who makes the woeful heart to sing.

Fair is the sunshine, fair is the moonlight,
And all the twinkling, starry host:
Jesus is brighter, Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels heav’n can boast.

Beautiful Savior! Lord of the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
Now and forever more be thine.

From Münster Gesangbuch, 1677, translated 1850, 1873