Are We Trusting Jesus To Roll Our Tomb Stone Away?
Good Morning Friends,
Today is Holy Saturday, the Great Sabbath, the last day of Lent, a day Jesus rested in the tomb and it is a good day to reflect on the light and darkness of life. And since everyone dies, it is also a good day to think about what happens in the process of our death. No today is not the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, but we could, for we do not have to crucify and resurrect him every year. Once was enough. This is in the scripture of the day, and its meaning is rather far reaching beyond any specific time. It however prompts a question related to us being dead to sin and alive to God. Are We Trusting Jesus To Roll Our Tomb Stone Away?
Scripture: Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:3-11 (NRSV)
When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.”
Mark 16:1-7 (NRSV)
Message: I do hope you realize that it is the power of God that moves the stone away for us at the same time it lays the foundation of our faith and opens heaven’s door. Here is the keystone of Christianity. And the stone has a story for stones in the Bible do share a message. For this is the stone that shouts out that Jesus is the Messiah who came so we might have life in abundance. The beauty is that we have been redeemed by God’s power not our own and as a result can live in a different way. We can live abundantly. The key to Christian living here is found in our union with Christ, both in His death and in His resurrection and the stone being rolled away opens the door. We are not to be shut in. We are to be set free. What we are, and whose we are, gives us a freedom in life and in death. And in this there is something about death and resurrection that cuts through all the externals. Thankfully Jesus has discharged our debt and opened the gates of the grave so that nothing will shut us in. For this reminds us of what is important. Friends, the only things that matters when we die is whether we believe Jesus died on the cross for us and whether with all our hearts, we believe that Jesus was resurrected for us. Friends, we are to place our hope in Christ. Here death is vanquished and Satan defeated. The power that rolled the stone away…the power by which Jesus overcame he lends to us in the Holy Spirit. Do not let sorrow dim your eyes. Awaken this power inside you. Let no fears trouble your spirit for we, in union with Christ, can conquer as Christ has conquered.
Pray we let no fear trouble us. Pray we stop depending on our own intellect and money to resolve the issues we face. Pray we realize that God has a better way. Pray we run from evil and seek God with passion. Pray we put God first. Pray we validate our behavior through scripture. Pray we listen to the Holy Spirit. Pray we rest in God’s love. Pray we trust Jesus more. Pray we glorify God more. Pray we uphold the mysteries of our resurection faith so more might share in the life abundant. Pray we share a love that never ends.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 