9780758606716_p0_v1_s260x420“Yet the Creator, who took on flesh and was born into His creation, is at this moment of death, bringing in new and eternal life, a new creation.  The darkness is a sign that already the end of the old world has come in a preliminary way in the death of Jesus (cf. Luke 21:25-26; Acts 2:20).  A new and eternal day, a dawn from on high, is about to break forth and shine forever on those who dwell in ‘darkness and in shadow of death’ (Luke 1:78-79).

“With Jesus’ death, the old order finally gives in to the curse of death brought on by Adam’s sin.  At the same time, Jesus’ work of atonement is completed, and He is about to enter into His own Sabbath rest (Luke 23:54, 56).  God’s provision for His new creation is completed; the new order is ready to shine forth, and it will do so with the first morning light of Easter.  Together, darkness and light – the three hours of darkness while Jesus is on the cross and the brilliant light of Easter morning – inaugurate the new creation, the eternal Sabbath rest for the people of God (Hebrews 4:9-10).  The new day of Sabbath rest has that beginning, but it will have no end; in the end times there will be no darkness, only light (Revelation 21:23-25); no crying or morning from suffering and death, only joy (21:4).”From Arthur A. Just Jr.’s book “Heaven on Earth: The Gifts of Christ in the Divine Service” published in 2008 by Concordia Publishing House, page 92.

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