Imagine visiting your local cemetery and suddenly you
discover the grave you’re approaching is not only unearthed – but the coffin is
wide open and empty!
What would you think? I suppose the first thing you’d do would be
to call security – and start a search for the missing body!
Something strange and
wonderful happened outside of Jerusalem at a small burial site in the Judean
countryside over 2000 years ago. A tomb
which was sealed the previous night was now wide open – with no one taking
credit for the monumental task. Let me
explain…
By definition, a grave is a place for the interment of
the dead; a tomb, a sepulcher. In Jesus’
day it was often merely a natural cave or grotto, or an artificial tomb hewn
out of rock. Many times graves were
flagged with flat stones as markers to warn passers-by that they should not
come in contact with the dead, thereby defiling themselves ceremonially, even
if it was unwittingly done. Once the
body was laid inside, the tomb was sealed with a large stone – most likely
weighing hundreds of pounds, and taking at least two strong men to place it at
the mouth of the cave. This was done to
prevent animals from desecrating the body or thieves from removing sacred
items. Unsealing the tomb without being
noticed would be difficult at best. One person alone could not move the stone
without help from some other source.
Resurrection morning
occurred on the first day of the week and Luke 24:1-12 tells us it was “very early”. The women who had been with Joseph, a council
member who had secretly become a disciple of Jesus, entered the tomb with the
prepared spices for the body of Jesus.
They discovered that the Lord’s body was not there – and as they stood
perplexed – two men in shining garments appeared before them. The women, fearful and bowing down in
reverence were told, “He is not here, but
is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful
men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again”. Verse 8
says, “And they remembered His words.”
These women had witnessed
Jesus’ body being placed inside the grave by Joseph and Nicodemus, who also
came with the burial preparations, including a large amount of myrrh, aloes,
spices and linen to wrap and prepare the Lord’s body, as was the custom of the
Jews (John 19:38-42). We know that when
Joseph of Arimathea offered to lay the body of Jesus in his own tomb carved out
of the rocky hillside, he most likely considered that he would need another
tomb for his own interment. Little did
he know that he would again be using that very tomb for himself! Jesus would merely be borrowing the sepulcher
for three days – never again to be laid to rest, but to arise victorious and
defeat death once and for all. What was
so special about this grave?
When the women approached
the tomb, they had but one concern: how would they roll away the large stone
that blocked the entrance into the cave?
But as they looked up – the stone had already been moved, and upon
entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on
the right side. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of
Nazareth, who was crucified. He is
risen! He is not here. See the place
where they laid Him.”
There was no need for the
stone – Christ simply stepped into heaven and left earth’s grip…
Charles Wesley penned this
stirring hymn which is sung in many churches on Easter morning:
Christ the
Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men
and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your
joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye
heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!
Lives again
our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O
death is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died,
our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where’s thy
victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!
Love’s
redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the
fight, the battle won. Alleluia!
Death in vain
forbids Him rise, Alleluia!
Christ hath
opened paradise, Alleluia!
Soar we now
where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our
exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like
Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the
cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
Deborah is the author of a Christian
non-fiction book titled “Mission
Possible”. It is written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their
spouse doesn’t share their passion. It will encourage and challenge the
reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together.
Visit http://www.spirituallyunevenmarriage.com
Love that old hymn and love the reason for it even more! Thank you for this, Deborah. Hope your Resurrection Day has been lovely!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Lynn. That's one of my favorite hymns also... Stirs your soul and lifts your spirit! :)
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