He's still doing that, proclaiming His love to me, to us, to all who will listen to His offer of life everlasting. The love of God IS unstoppable. Even in the midst of this corona stress, His love on the Cross,both then and now, comes to stop the stress and offer us His peace. In the midst of a swirling lack of focus around us now, He comes and offers a cure for anxiety and fear and lack of focus.Jesus said in John 14:1: "Do not let your heart be troubled. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
There's also more to the story of what happened that Saturday long ago. There were many witnesses to the crucifixion that stayed around. The soldiers who were at the cross and guarded the tomb. I imagine the centurion who proclaimed Jesus as a righteous man and indeed the Son of God was there. Mary Magdalene, waiting at the tomb the next morning, must have been there, with her many women friends who also served Jesus. His disciple John was there caring for Jesus' mother too. All were watching and waiting. I am waiting with them. So much more was to come. Read on!
He Took the Keys
His Victory Cry up on that cross
Was not His first or last.
His next victory cry was heard
When He entered triumphant,
Back in Father’s full Presence.
It is still bringing joy to all of heaven.
There must have been a huge
Welcome Home Party!
Soon after, another momentous cry was heard—
When He stormed the gates of Hell.
With His Almighty love for us,
He took the keys of death,
Right out of Satan’s hand.
For He Who descended is the same One who
Ascended higher than all the heavens.
Now He fills the whole universe,
With joy unspeakable and full of glory
He holds the keys
Of life and death
Of heaven and hell
To offer us and you life today.
Rev. 1:18: I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
Eph. 4:9-10: But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.
I Peter 3:19: For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits, to those who were disobedient long ago.
Joseph of Arimathea’s Own New Tomb
(Mt. 27:57-61, Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:50-56 and John 19:38-42)
He had just bought it, with his own money--
It was his own new tomb, cut out of his own rock.
But he had just become one, with his own heart.
A secret disciple of Jesus, another Rock
How did he do it, while waiting for the kingdom of God,
To give up one treasure and rock for another?
(Mt. 27:57-61, Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:50-56 and John 19:38-42)
He had just bought it, with his own money--
It was his own new tomb, cut out of his own rock.
But he had just become one, with his own heart.
A secret disciple of Jesus, another Rock
How did he do it, while waiting for the kingdom of God,
To give up one treasure and rock for another?
Going to Pilate to Get His Body
How brave he was,
This prominent member of the High Council,
Who had not given his consent for Jesus’ death.
Yet this good and upright man
Went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus body!
How did he do it -- to think that Pilate’s heart
Would so easily give up the body of Jesus.
While trying to hide in the rock-tomb,
Of his own guilt and shame?
Taking Down His Body
So at the end of the day, as their custom allowed,
Joseph came to the cross, with his good friend Nicodemus.
They came to take his broken body down,
body broken for us, for me,
covered with my blood and sorrow and His tears!
And now Joseph’s following of Jesus was a secret no more.
Nicodemus, His disciple, was grieving too.
These disciples were bound by
Loss and
Grief, and
75 pounds of spices.
Together they bought and used a clean linen cloth
on the tear and blood-stained body.
To clean and wrap it up with love.
They carefully wrapped his body in those 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes,
An amount used only in royal burials.
His body was wrapped in strips of linen-love and what must have been tears,
Wrapped together in God’s eternal purposes.
Taking His Body to Joseph’s Tomb
So they took Jesus’ body to Joseph’s brand new,
Never-before used tomb,
And left it in a garden…. like another long ago.
How did they do it? How did it affect him to see Jesus there?
To be given such a love-entrusted commission,
To make it ready for His burial, and us, and me.
What was his hope for this tomb of love,
This tomb containing two rocks?
He must have been strong, this man of Arimathea,
Along with his trusted friend,
To roll and push until the stone was closed.
Their grief must have held tears of strength.
And how did they close it and then just go away?
Did they look back?
As they left the tomb that day, they left part of their hearts,
How could they just leave two rocks behind?
Such strength and courage of heart,
When others had left for home.
They had hearts more solid than stone!
Thoughts from Joseph
It was the call of loveThat made me give up one rock for Another
It was the courage of love
That took me to Pilate to ask for the body.
It was the respect and awe of love
That got ready the body so stained with blood.
It was the hope and commitment of love
That pushed the stone til it was closed.
It was the strength of love that bound me, that called me,
To follow and give up what I once thought dear.
To give up one rock for Another.
It was the power of my love for the man, my King, and the Son of God
I must now deny myself,
take up my cross,
and follow the Rock.
I had decided to follow Jesus,
No turning back,
No turning back.
Your Heart and the Tomb
Solid as stone ...
Or are you in hiding in a tomb?
Only the Rock Jesus can give you
Such deep love,
Such courage and
Such awe-swept peace,
Such hope
Such unwavering commitment and
Such strength,
Such power to make such a decision.
To deny yourself,
Take up your cross,
Follow the Rock,
No turning back, no turning back.
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