He Will Rise

Today, Jesus lies dead in His tomb.

Grief. Mourning. Anguish.

The followers of Jesus were heavy-hearted on this day. They felt pained; their bodies weary and their eyes lifeless- as if they could weep no more. Other people went about their daily lives, but Jesus’ friends and family mourned. They mourned and they grieved for their friend… brother… son… teacher. The Messiah, the Christ lay dead in a tomb: tried, convicted and crucified for a crime He never commit.

Yesterday, Jesus was crucified.

Humiliation. Agony. Betrayal.

He was dressed in a scarlet robe; on His head was placed a crown of thorns. He was brutally mocked by the soldiers- they laughed and they pointed. They flogged him. Then He was made to carry His own cross- the very tree on which He would die. He carried it on his back up to the place of the Skull. There, He was hung on the tree. Sharp nails were stabbed through his hands, his feet. They pierced His pure, pure skin. His perfect body was overcome with agonising pain that he did not- could not– deserve. On the cross was hung a sign: ‘Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews’. It was written in three languages so that everyone could understand what He was being crucified for. So that everyone could laugh.

Jesus was scorned. People laughed shamelessly, whilst the sinless Son of God hung on a cross, His body slowly becoming weaker and weaker. The soldiers tore from Him His clothes; they cast lots for them.

Finally, His earthly flesh could take it no more. Jesus mustered every last bit of strength from within Him and with His last breath He cried out to His Heavenly Father.

‘It is finished’.

Then the curtain in the temple was torn in two and truly, it was finished.

But tomorrow, oh, what a glorious day! Jesus will rise!

Victory! Celebration! Triumph!

Death is beaten! It is not the end! Jesus will rise, He will triumph over the grave!

Tomorrow, life will be breathed into Jesus’ lifeless body. Slowly- slowly, He will stir, He will wake up and He will rise. He will do the humanly impossible. He will come back from the dead- destroying death and making life possible! What a perfect display of the perfect power of our perfect Lord!

Oh, what a glorious, glorious day!

The Crucifixion is undeniably the most incredible, most undeserved, most powerful act of love to ever be shown. There has been no greater display of love than this; there never will be.

The very Son of God came to earth as a mere man so that he could save us. He was blameless; perfect; holy. Yet still, He accepted death without a fight. It was the most painful death imaginable. It was undeserved. He hung on a cross at Calvary and willingly took upon Himself the sins of man and the wrath of God. He spilled His own pure blood so that He could free us from the clutches of sin and death.

Jesus Christ died a death of unimaginable horror. And He did it for us: it was the ultimate sacrifice. He poured His perfect, perfect love out over us. He paid our debt in full- He bought us at a price; a high, high price. He saved us, and now we are free indeed!

Today, Jesus lies dead in His tomb.

But have hope, dear friend for tomorrow, He will be risen!