Divine Bread/Living Water: Party Crasher

M eanwhile, in the depths of Hades, a hideously loud celebration drowned out the beautiful anthem coming from across the great divide. Such was the devious joy of Hell that few noticed the movement afar in Paradise. Demonic roars and raucous singing had interrupted the usual melancholy suffering upon the news of Messiah's demise. Satan had declared a feast and victory celebration and now led the chorus singing, "I have won, heaven has lost, and the earth and all its inhabitants are mine. I have put ruin to God's plans using those who claimed they new Him best." Demons and minions drinking steaming gruel shouted, "Hail, Lord Satan! He has won the day." But from the caverns came a whisper, "Somethings changed."

A sheepish looking imp entered the party with a whisper to the evil one, "Master, there is someone at the gates of Hell demanding to see you." Satan roared, "They must wait. I am celebrating the death of Messiah!" The shivering one replied, "Master, He is very persistent, and He says you must come - He even commands it. I could not stop Him. He broke open the gate." The devil smashed the back of his hand against the interrupter's face sending him crashing against the rocks. "How dare anyone demand of me anything on the day of my victory! I shall see to this annoyance and dispatch of him quickly. Carry on until I return."

Satan rushed to hell's gate with fury shouting, "I'll be damned if anyone will interrupt my triumph. What? It is You! It can't be. We hung You on a tree and mocked You as You died. The face of God turned away from You and all man's futile hope was crushed."

Messiah confidently set aside the broken gate and calmly replied, "Satan, you have finally done it. In your zeal to thwart redemption's plan, you finally killed an innocent man. Your act of open rebellion has accomplished what centuries of sacrifice could not. While the blood of bulls and goats could only cover sin for a season, God's perfect blood was spilled, and its power did not just cover man's sin, but it washed man's sin away for all time. Now, give Me the keys to this place. You can control hell's gate no more. No longer will men come to this place because they have to; they will only come here because they choose to."

The furious cry from Satan's mouth shook the caverns, "I am doomed! The keys are Yours; I've lost it all. You have claimed the victor's crown." To which Messiah replied, "Heaven and Hell will never be the same! It is all changed." And then He was gone - along with the keys.

Excerpt from The Rest of the Easter Story, page 103-104, Chosen, Forgiven and Loved

Prayer for the Day

King of Heaven's Armies, I choose You today. I choose life today. I choose Heaven today. Because of You, I am redeemed, clean, and set free to be totally Yours. You are a life changer and the hope of all who trust in You. Amen.