“And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.” Matthew 27:59,60
Can you imagine what was going through the minds of Christ’s followers as they took His body down from the cross and laid it in the tomb?
Low in the grave He lay,
Jesus, my Savior,
Waiting the coming day,
Jesus, my Lord!
Jesus had told His followers that He would be raised up the third day. Were they listening? How long did those days feel to them? I am not a patient person by nature. God knows this and has me waiting on things, on life, all the time. I keep thinking, now I’ve learned patience and then the next thing comes along and I want immediate resolution. Clearly, I have not learned it. The followers of Jesus were waiting the coming day to see if His words were true.
Vainly they watch His bed,
Jesus, my Savior;
Vainly they seal the dead,
Jesus, my Lord!
Even the non-believing Jewish people kept thinking about His words. They wanted a stone in front of the tomb. “Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day…” Matthew 27:64,65
Death cannot keep his Prey,
Jesus, my Savior;
He tore the bars away,
Jesus, my Lord!
Death wasn’t any match for an all powerful God. The Jewish leaders thought sealing the tomb would be the final victory in killing Jesus yet what happened? He tore the bars away! He arose! Mary Magdalene went to mourn at Jesus’ tomb and instead she found angels there. “And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” Matthew 28:5,6
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
And so we can sing triumphantly this chorus! Up from the grave, He DID arise! Death could not conquer Him. The Jewish leaders were wrong, the tomb could not keep Him. He arose! He gave us eternal life by taking our sins on the cross with Him. Christ arose to give us an eternal Heaven.
As we enter church tomorrow and as we celebrate this glorious time, let us remember that Easter is not about bunnies, eggs, and trinkets. It’s remembering, primarily, why we can fall asleep at night in peace. He arose! It is to remind us why we do not need to fear the evil of this world. He arose! Hallelujah, Christ arose!
