“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” – John 1:14
“After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about 75 pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.” – John 19:38-42
“We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united in a resurrection like His. We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.” – Romans 6:4-7
We have spent 39 days in the noise and chaos that surrounded the cross of Jesus. We have heard Him speak seven times as He gave His life for us. These words from the cross have shown us a great deal about our God and our Savior. They reveal to us a very personal and compassionate God who shows mercy and forgives even when it is not deserved.
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
He is a God who sees and is active in meeting our needs. He makes sure we are taken care of…”Woman, behold, your son!” He is a God who hears our cries for help and always answers the call of the repentant heart with a promise…even when we wait until the last minute.
“Today, you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Our God became flesh and lived among us and knows how we feel and what it means to be thirsty. “I thirst”. He knows what it means to be lonely and to feel abandoned. He has been there.
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
He is a God who is committed to save us and does not stop short in the process…”It is finished”. He modeled for us a relationship of faith and trust that goes beyond the boundaries of this world.
“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”
Now the crowd has left. The voices of the scoffers are silent. The dust has settled and the violent work for our salvation is finished. It is powerful. The sin that has separated us from our heavenly Father and has loudly accused us…has now been silenced by the Word of God. It brings even fearful believers out of the shadows and into the light. Nicodemus had come under the cover of darkness (John 3) but now came boldly to the cross. Joseph had followed in secret but now openly came to Pilate. You cannot embrace the cross of Jesus and remain at a distance. The cross calls us to step forward. It causes us to ask, “How can I be ashamed of One who sacrificed His life for me?”
Today, we pause in the quietness of the garden tomb. How has this Lenten journey drawn you closer to your Savior? We are each called to come to the cross…out of the shadows and into the light. Take time to think about it and make some commitments that take you beyond these 40 days and into a closer relationship with your Lord.