The music begins causing a hush to fall on the waiting audience. They rise as he walks ahead, carrying the mace on his shoulder. The excitement and expectation are palpable. The mace, a symbol of authority to change lives, to confer degrees, to give new hope. Graduation! —- All sound vanishes as a hush washes across the waiting crowd. They stand as he walks past, carrying the cross on his shoulder. The grief and despair are palpable. The cross, a symbol of authority to end lives, to destroy faith, to crush hope. Crucifixion! “The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open.” (Isaiah 22:22). —-The procession ends, the mace laid at the Chancellor’s feet. Hours pass. Celebration. It is finished. The mace lifted. New hope unlocked. Joy erupts. —- The procession ends, the cross planted in the ground. Hours pass. Suffering. “It is finished” (John 19:30). The key turns. “The graves were opened;” Life erupts “and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised” (Matthew 27:52). Jesus carried the greatest key of all on his shoulder. And on this day, he unlocked the greatest lock of all, death – for you. Let hope, joy. and life eternal erupt. Let praise and music sound. Open Bible – http://bit.ly/isa22v22, http://bit.ly/joh19v30, http://bit.ly/mat27v52
