Bad Moon Rising

Actually, it will be setting here in Iowa. There will be a total lunar eclipse at around 5:30 AM on the western horizon just before moon set in the morning. The actual eclipse will happen quickly, and will probably not last for more than 5 minutes. The shadow of the earth will cover the moon, blocking the rising sun's light and making the moon appear blood red, hence the name "blood moon". There are many religious types, among them the  fundie Christians and orthodox Jews, that are seeing this as some kind of sign from the Almighty since this is happening on Easter/Passover weekend. It is being interpreted as a sign of impending judgement or some other gloom or doom. For me, it's just a natural phenomenon and a thing of beauty. Somehow, I think if God wanted to tell us something, there would be frogs and locusts or maybe the death of the first born. God does not mess around with moon shadows when there is serious judging to be done.  Enjoy the light show.  

The Day Love Died

 

Mark 15:25-41

²⁵ It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. ²⁶ The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.
²⁷ They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. ^{[28] [a] 29} Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, ³⁰ come down from the cross and save yourself!” ³¹ In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! ³² Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
³³ At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. ³⁴ And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).^[b]
35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”
³⁶ Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.
³⁷ With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
³⁸ The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. ³⁹ And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died,^[c] he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
⁴⁰ Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph,^[d] and Salome. ⁴¹ In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

It was not a Good Friday for Jesus, but it is what He was born to do. He became the lamb of God. He took on our sin and then became our sacrifice. He stood in our place, taking our punishment, suffering the worst form of execution devised by the hand of man - crucifixion. The hope of the whole world rested on His act of selflessness. His death became our gain. He made it possible for us to stand before God without fear, forgiven of sin as children of the living God. 

But it was not over. Sunday was coming and the hope that He gave in His death would translate to victory and life eternal on the first day of the new week. Sunday was coming...