Empty Grave - Open Heart

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 imagine the first thing you would do is call security – and start the search for a missing body!

Something strange and wonderful happened outside 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 then 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 was 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

If you have been encouraged by this post - please take time to share it with others.

Empty Grave - Open Heart

A King, A Donkey and A Praise Team

"Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.'"  (Zechariah 9:9)

The two disciples thought they heard Jesus correctly: "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you; you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them.' and immediately he will send them."

As they approached the village, they looked at each other with that look... the one they've used before - as if to say, "are you thinking what I'm thinking?"  As they turned onto the street, Jesus spoke of, sure enough, there was the colt - tied up outside by the door, just as He said.  As they begun to untie the colt, the owners approached them and said, "Why are you loosing the colt?" 

They both chimed in at the same time, saying, "The Lord has need of him."  They held their collective breath until the owner finally nodded in their direction.  They carefully led the animal down the dusty, uneven path out to where the Lord was.  First one, and then the other laid their garments on the beast as a befitting gesture to the Lord.  He mounted the compliant colt and rode slowly towards Jerusalem.

Many onlookers began spreading their garments on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the palm trees that shaded the crowd from the glaring sun.  By now a great multitude had gathered; some following from behind and some went ahead of Jesus, crying out, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!  Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

The King of Kings was entering the Holy City on a lowly donkey...  There was no white stallion or blazing chariot for this royal ruler.  No - this was a servant King who chose to humble Himself and give the glory to His Father.  As his disciples began to rejoice with the people, praising in loud voices for all of the mighty works they had witnessed, there were those who were less than impressed.

Some of the Pharisees called out to Him from the crowd saying, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples."  Their rising discomfort had more to do with their self-righteous attitudes and pious indignity than it did with genuine concern.  Jesus then said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."

[Key passages shared are Matthew 21:1-10 , Mark 11:1-10 , Luke 19:28-40 , John 13:12-15]

The donkey headed down the crowed bumpy street undaunted. The city was bustling with travelers from all walks of life. The busy markets and roaming beasts emitted their own share of scents. But on this day the Rose of Sharon rode towards Jerusalem to fulfill His destiny...

There is a sweet fragrance that rises to the Father as our prayers, praises and testimonies make their way to Him.  As the Apostle Paul so eloquently states in II Corinthians 2:14-15 , "But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ's victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere. For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing..."  (The Message)

Today there are still many who do not recognize His Deity. 

They marvel at His works and embrace His teachings.  They acknowledge His wisdom and admire his morals, but there are still observers who ask, "Who is this Jesus?" 

During this Easter season think about what you believe and how you might share it with others. Do you have a special Scripture reference? What is your answer for the hope that lies within you? 

(I Peter 3:15-16)

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

If you have been encouraged by this post - please take time to share it with others.

A King, A Donkey and A Praise Team

The Cross Is Passing By - Are You Ready?

Tiepolo - Christ Carrying the Cross

"Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.  And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him." (Luke 23:26-27)

I have always imagined what the people thought as they watched Jesus being led from Pilate's courtyard through the city of Jerusalem up to the hillside of Calvary to be crucified.

Surely some of the crowd that witnessed the travesty of an innocent man condemned to death in the place of a hardened, habitual criminal would follow the procession.  Many of them recognized Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount, or perhaps from his teaching along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had healed many men, women and children throughout Judea.  Can you imagine the sick feeling they had in the pit of their stomach as they saw him bloody and battered?  Don't you wonder how they felt as they watched the synagogue leaders and elders participate in his unlawful arrest and sentencing?

Imagine finding yourself on the very road that the Roman soldiers were clearing a path for Jesus and the two others with him. There would have been a loud commotion from the troops as shouts and commands echoed in the narrow streets. People were being shoved and prodded as their curiosity caused them to peer into the throng that surrounded the Man from Nazareth. 

At that time the cross portrayed death and destruction.  It reminded the people in Jerusalem of their Roman occupiers. It was a symbol of the heavy-handed punishment administered for insurrection and threats to Caesar's rule.

As the cross passed by - the people were indifferent. They were not ready for its impact.  They had no idea that it would come to represent freedom and liberty.  

The Apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians 1:17-18 "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

That "power" is the resurrection power that overcame the sting of the grave. Those who believe on Jesus Christ will never see spiritual death. The cross symbolizes an eternal truth: Christ's cross is life giving. Jesus is the Living Hope for all eternity.  (Isaiah 25:8; Hosea 13:14)

Easter is a season of new birth and renewal.  If you want to know more about how you can have a personal relationship with God, please visit this link:        Billy Graham's - Steps to Peace With God

Easter is coming.  The cross is passing by.  What will you do with it?

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

If you have been encouraged by this post - please take time to share it with others.

The Cross Is Passing By - Are You Ready?

There’s No Place Like Home…

While flying back across the ocean from our vacation, I was peering out of the window of the Boeing 767 we were on from an altitude of about 32,000 feet. Sandwiched there between two layers of clouds, I felt like I could step directly into the heavenly realm, right there and then. The sun glistened off of the billowing peaks, as though they were great marshmallow mountains. There was a peaceful serenity as we glided through their expanse. As I surveyed the enormity of the never-ending horizon, I kept thinking about “going home”. I was really missing it, and God gently reminded me that it was only my temporary address while on this earth.

In the 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz”, Judy Garland [Dorothy] was thrust into the fantasy land of Oz when a twister picked up the house she was in and landed it in another place and time. She set out on a journey with her dog Toto to find the Emerald City. There she hoped to meet the Wizard of Oz, the one person who could guide her home. Her intentions were to ask him to help her return to Kansas. But of course, the wizard was only a mortal man, not the all-powerful one she had imaged. Once she had in her possession the magical “ruby slippers”, it was a matter of clicking her heals together and repeating over and over (with eyes shut), “There’s no place like home.”

As believers, our time on earth is “as a vapor” (James 4:14). Our true home is an eternal abode –   a permanent residence; incorruptible and without confinement.  Paul states in I Thessalonians 4:16-17, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

Dorothy was searching diligently for the Emerald City in the land of Oz. But we long for “a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God”. We journey towards the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, a city with streets of pure gold and walls of jasper. She sought after the wizard of Oz for direction, but we look towards our Creator – Almighty God, the Shepherd of our souls for our guidance. Our “ruby slippers” are the shoes of salvation, dipped in the precious blood of Christ Jesus. Our path home was secured by a loving God Who sacrificed His own son that we might gain access to His Glory forever through Him.

As we journey through this life, let us remember to “look up and lift our heads, for our redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28). Christ’s second coming is closer that it once was. The angelic host will shout, “Welcome home!”  Then, Jesus Himself will say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your Lord.”     There’s no place like home…

There’s No Place Like Home…