The Miracle of the Cross

Today is a special day – Palm Sunday. Next week, Easter, we focus on the miracle of Jesus’ Resurrection. For Christians, that’s an easy miracle to spot – on the third day, through the miraculous power of God, Jesus was raised from the dead in an immortal body. Hallelujah!


However, this Palm Sunday, we focus on another miracle, a more subtle miracle, a quieter miracle, suggested by a sermon by Michael Card, the co-writer of last weeks’ piece, “El-Shaddai” – the miracle of the Cross. Our focus on this miracle is highlighted by the song brought today by McKayla Medders, “Ten Thousand Angels Cried.” This piece, written by David Patillo, a singer, musician and songwriter, and recorded by Lee Ann Rhymes goes in part like this:

Stillness filled the Heavens, on Crucifixion day.
Some say it rained, I don't know if it's true.
Well, I can just imagine if ten thousand angels cried,
That would seem like rain to me and you.

The angels all stood ready to take Him from the tree
They waited for the words from His voice.
And when He asked the Father 'Why has Thou forsake Me?'
They watched the Savior die of His own choice.

I've never seen ten thousand angels cry
But I'm sure they did
As they stood by
And watched the Savior die.


Have you figured out yet what the miracle of the cross is? It’s not at all anything Jesus did – it’s what he didn’t do. He didn’t come down off the cross. The older song on the same subject, “Ten Thousand Angels,” says, “He could have called ten thousand angels to destroy the world and set Him free” – He could have, He was and is God incarnate, Immanuel, God with us – but He didn’t. Instead, He died. What a miracle that Jesus would die for you – for me.


Our song today suggests the scene in Heaven as the angels, amassed in dread array, swords drawn and awaiting the trumpet sound to descend – wait . . . and wait. The call doesn’t come, the trumpet doesn’t sound. Eventually, the angels understand and they are so saddened that their King is dying begin to cry. Matthew 27:45, Mark 15:33 and Luke 23:44 tell us that an eerie 3-hour darkness fell on the Earth. Perhaps it rained, we don’t know; but it was as dark as the darkest thunderstorm. Perhaps, just perhaps, that thunderstorm was the tears of ten thousand angels.