See Where His Body Lay

Jesus tomb, as was common practice, with kings, was sealed with a large circular stone, sealed with a Roman seal 27:66. A guard of soldiers was also set (Matt 27:66). Early on the first day of the week an earthquake occurred as an angel of the Lord descended. Despite the earthquake the stone was not moved - the angel did that (Matt 28:2). Earthquakes produce chaos and disorder but on this day there is peace and orderliness. The women on the way to the tomb mused as to who should roll away the stone (Mark 16:3).

A single angel is more powerful than a watch of soldiers, has more authority than Imperial Rome itself. Having opened the tomb the angel sat upon the overturned stone with its broken seal. The stone represents the limit of man’s power. The seal represents the limit of Rome's authority.

From this angelic being, his first task complete, now a word of comfort to the women. 'Do not (you) be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified'. The disciples had scattered but the women, devotedly, were back at the tomb. Some would censure the women for their lack of faith in not expecting the Lord to rise as He said He would. The angel does not upbraid them for their lack of faith but sees their devotion, and rewards them.

Following that word of comfort, an invitation 'Come see the place where the Lord lay'. That is the invitation we hear again each Easter morning. It is an invitation to strengthen our faith - at an empty tomb. However we must come not as an Historian or Archaeologist would come, we come as the women came - ready to minister to the Lord. Those who minister to others, themselves receive great blessing. The women certainly were greatly blessed that day.

Luke 24:3 tells us they were 'greatly perplexed' because they found no body. Having embalmed His body they had every reason to be perplexed. Indeed the lack of a body caused no small stir then - and still does today. Not only were the women perplexed, so were the chief priests who offered bribes to the soldiers to say the body had been stolen by His disciples (28:12-13). Just think, the responsible authorities had lost His body!!!

Then there was His disciples LUKE 24:23,24 Cleopas on the Emmaus road, tells how they had not believed the women and how they went to the tomb but did not see a Him either alive as the women said, nor His body: 'And when they found not His body, they came saying that they had seen a vision of angels which said that He was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the tomb and found it even as the women had said, but Him they found not'.

The lack of a body causes many problems even today. The life and death of Jesus is so well documented both in religious and secular history that few would be foolish enough to deny Jesus had once lived on earth. But His body - disappeared - no body, no proof! The world wants a body - to believe. The Christian, does not need a body to believe, for a body in His tomb would destroy our faith, and hope of resurrection. An empty tomb, and a risen Lord is the guarantee that we shall rise again to be with Him.

The women looked for a body, but did not find one. What did they find? An angel with a glorious message of hope - 'He is not here He is risen'. A commission - 'Go and tell My disciples, and Peter'. Peter, who later visited the tomb only saw a pile of linen burial clothes. Now I wonder why? As Peter had been mentioned specifically by the angel. Clearly Peter had doubted the testimony of Mary Magdalene: 'And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe' (Mark 16:11), and 'Their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they did not believe them' (Luke 24:11)

What will you see at the tomb on Easter morning? Will your doubting heart cause you to see just emptiness - a pile of burial clothes? Or will you like Mary receive confirmation in your heart that He is who He said He was, and that He is alive forever more. Your faith strengthened.

You may have to struggle through the darkness and coldness of doubt and unbelief - BUT DO COME. The women pressed through the darkness of the night, through the pre-dawn chill, through their natural fears of a graveyard - and found not so much an empty tomb, but a Risen Lord. The promise in the Word is that if we draw near to God, he will draw near to us. This is brilliantly fulfilled with the women at the tomb.

The Outcome of That Morning: 'They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to bring His disciples word' (Matt 28:8).

First we note the sense of urgency - departed quickly - ran. Next we note their - fear and great joy. Fear - because of the majestic, holy angel, and the message Jesus is alive. Great joy - because their friend, their Lord was alive – alive - alive. So they ran to proclaim the good news.

Hardly had they been entrusted to spread the word - they're off, at speed. It is at this point that something happens beyond their wildest dreams. 'As they went to tell His disciples, Jesus met them, saying "Rejoice" and they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him'

The Lord who honoured their devotion to Him by sending His angel to them, now in the face of such utter devotion - REVEALS HIMSELF TO THEM. The doubting disciples must wait to see the Lord. The devoted heart will meet Him at the empty tomb.

So how will you approach the empty tomb this Easter morning? Do you have doubts in your heart concerning the Lord, who He is etc.? Then all you will find is a pile of burial clothes, like Peter did. But do you come to His tomb, ready to minister to Him, from a heart totally dedicated and devoted to Him. If so, then you will find your Lord waiting to reveal Himself to you in all His risen glory, so strengthening your faith and trust in Him. JESUS IS ALIVE!

Looking to Jesus

At the family service last month we thought of the way the Lord Jesus ministered to a man who was profoundly deaf. From the story recorded in Mark chapter 7:31-37 we saw how He used his own version of sign language to show the man what he was going to do … and then wonderfully did it. We were reminded that if we have ears we need to hear (Mark 7:16)! 
One of the things that always fascinate me when I see it is someone signing for those who are deaf and hard of hearing. Occasionally when there is a news bulletin on the television you see someone signing in the bottom corner of the screen and I can’t take my eyes off it, so much so that I often forget to listen to the news report at the same time. Though I have ears to hear, I don’t hear because I’m too busy focusing on the little person in the corner. I read this week of the sign language used to ‘say’ Jesus. Do you know what it is? To make the sign, apparently, you simply put the tip of your index finger of one hand into the palm of the other, and then the index finger of the second hand in to the palm of the first. With Easter coming up, I’m sure you can work out why. To think of Jesus you must think of the nail prints in his hands. 
On Good Friday we will remember the death of Christ. After the mockery, the scourging, the spitting, the stripping, the striking and the humiliation, those hands that had ministered to, and healed, so many were taken and nailed to a cruel cross. He died, not just because he was taken by cruel hands, but because God’s perfect plan for our salvation could only be executed if He was (Acts 2:23). Without the shedding of his blood our sins could never be forgiven (Heb 9:22). On Good Friday we will remember his death afresh. But on Easter Day we will celebrate the resurrection of the Jesus put to death on Good Friday. He is the Son of God! He is the Resurrection and the Life! He has conquered death and the grave, as well as sin and Satan, and gives eternal life to all who will trust in Him. That truth is so wonderful it cannot be anything but true! The early disciples struggled to believe it and even to recognize the risen Lord when they saw him. But the nail prints were still there. John 20:20 tells us that the fears and doubts of those disciples hiding away at the end of that first Easter Day were gloriously removed when they saw His hands. Then they were glad because they knew they had seen the Lord! 
Whoever had the idea of making the sign for Jesus revolve around the nail prints was very perceptive. As important as the life of Jesus was, with its perfect obedience to the law of God, and its endless outpouring of compassion to those who were in need, it is the death and resurrection of Christ that is key to our understanding of him. He came to give his life as a ransom for our salvation. It is his death and resurrection that gives us hope. It is trusting in the Christ of Easter that will bring us salvation. Have you done that?

A True Messiah

The death early last month of Nelson Mandela, the first democratically elected President of South Africa, and one of the icons of the twentieth century, was perhaps the most widely reported event of the whole of 2013.  Even in the UK, thousands of miles away, hour after hour of television and radio time were given over to coverage of his death, state memorial service and burial.  Many people here, though they might have had no connection with South Africa, and had never seen Mandela, let alone known him, seemed to share in what seemed like a worldwide sense of loss.  It was interesting to compare the reaction to his death with that of Margaret Thatcher earlier in the year.

         Watching the coverage as a Christian believer greatly interested me, particularly in the way that he was pictured almost as some sort of Messianic figure who had led the country out of the dark ages of apartheid into the light of a fully-fledged democracy.  Though one would have to recognise that the impact of Mandela’s life was truly remarkable, it would have been good for somebody to point out some of the other facts: that Mandela never renounced violence, or as far as we know, repented of the deaths of many, Christian missionaries included, for which as head of the ANC he was responsible.  The gap between the rich and poor in South Africa is greater now than ever.  We remember present day missionaries visiting us who spoke of the dangers of life there.  Perhaps it will be many years before his impact can be truly measured.

         What was, perhaps, even more interesting was the way in which he was set up as a great example of forgiveness.  Much was made of the way in which he had shown great kindness towards those who had been his captors on Robben Island, insisting they have the best seats at his inauguration as President, never forgetting their children’s birthdays etc.  We saw again, as we have when victims of IRA terrorism have been interviewed, how human beings are fascinated by forgiveness and envious of those who find it within themselves to act in such a way.

         Which brings us surely to Jesus!  He is the true Messiah, and the greatest example of forgiveness.  His ‘long walk’ was to a cross, rather than to freedom. Even as he hung there, numbered with terrorists but innocent of every charge laid against him, he prayed for his executioners and their forgiveness.  The kingdom that He brought in is an everlasting one, marked by universal peace and freedom.  The life of Jesus Christ not only means that you and I can have a better life here and now, but an eternity in heaven.

         Though many were happy to state that Mandela was now in heaven, making such statements is wrong, though I hope that he is.  The way to heaven for Mandela was the same as it is for you and me.  We must trust in the Lord Jesus Christ with all our heart.  Only by his perfect sacrifice being applied to our sin laden hearts can any of us be saved.  Is that true of you?

Fly on the Wall

“I wouldn’t mind being a fly on the wall there today!”  I wonder if you’ve ever used an expression like that.  Perhaps you wanted to be a witness to the moment two people were meeting up, or when somebody was being told a particular piece of news.  As a fly on the wall you would have a great view of the event, but more importantly an unnoticed one.  We’re all a bit inquisitive – nosy – aren’t we, so if we haven’t said it, we’ve probably thought it.

    When we think about it, it is actually a daft thing to wish for.  Who would really want to change places with a fly?  They don’t seem to have much of a life do they?  And in most of our houses that life wouldn’t last long as we’d soon get out the fly spray, or clobber the insect with a rolled up copy of the Argus.  It’s far better to be a human being.  To become a fly we would have to give up our intellect, skills, emotions, thought processes and so much more.

    It’s Christmas time again, and so we as Christians are beginning once more to celebrate the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ.  When we think of what the true message of the season really is, we are reminded just what an amazing truth it is.  God became man.  Without for a moment letting go of His God-ness, the Son of God chose to become man.  He took a frail human body and came to live on the planet that he had created.  The One who was eternal became a helpless infant.  He gave up the glory of life in Heaven with His Father, a life He had enjoyed eternally.  He gave up the worship of the countless angels that live there – worship that was rightfully his.  He came into a world spoilt by sin, a world of pain and death, and suffered the rejection of men and women who would not believe in him, and who eventually would execute Him. 

    For you and I to become a fly would be a major thing, but we would be simply exchanging one created form for another.  Though man is the highpoint of God’s creation, he is but a creature, made in the image of God.  But at the first Christmas the creator stepped into the world He had made.  God became man, a far greater transformation than you becoming a fly! That should really blow our minds.  It should cause us, along with the shepherds, their angelic visitors and the wise men, to adore and worship.

    That is particularly so because of the purpose of the incarnation.  The Lord Jesus Christ came into the world “to save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).  The incarnation happened for our salvation.  You and I have fallen short of God’s glory and broken His perfect law.  Because of that we are rightly under His condemnation.  Nothing we can say or do can change that.  It took the incarnation and the atonement on the cross that follows to give us a hope.  He came from Heaven to earth, so that we might go one day from earth to heaven.

    So don’t get lost this December amongst all the tinsel, turkey and TV!  Thank God for the incarnation, and worship the One it’s all about.

Seeking Jesus

As revealed on this magazine page a few months back, I’m always amused by these surveys that you find reported on in the newspapers, and another one caught my eye a week or so ago.  It was published in The Times, and concerned the answers 2,000 adults gave to a question relating to what people considered important in life – things to do before you die!  The list gave us the fifty things considered essential to ‘living life to the full’.  As I reach another birthday this month, it seemed wise to have a good look at this list!

Some of them were obvious – stop worrying about money; be true to yourself; concentrate on what you have rather than what you don’t have.  Others were bizarre; try an adrenaline-packed activity such as sky-diving; visit all of Britain’s historical landmarks; go outside more.  Rather too many were just immoral so I won’t list those.  One of fifty was to ‘reach your desired career peak by the age of 40’.  Perhaps you’d better be the judge of whether I could include that in my list of ‘ticks’.  A brief scan of the list suggested that I could write ‘done that’ alongside about twenty of the fifty.  I won’t be taking up sky-diving to get to twenty-one!

So what are the truly essential experiences that make life complete?  How would we answer that as Christians?  I suppose the first thing to say is that the foundation of a question like this can often be a wrong one to start with.  Lists like this start with the presumption that death is the end, that ‘you’re a long time dead’ and so in the mean time we should eat, drink and be merry/skydiving’.  It suggests that all the truly wonderful experiences of life can only be enjoyed before death and so we need to pack as many of them in whilst we are able.

One of the things that we have seen in our studies in the book of Revelation is that this sort of thinking is simply not true.  For the Christian there is something unspeakably wonderful beyond the grave.  To be in a place where we can enjoy God, His presence, provision and protection, for ever, will be a far superior experience to anything that this world can offer.  To be in a place where every tear is wiped from our eye is a glorious hope to look forward to.  For the Christian, life will be incomparably better after death.  That is why the Apostle Paul didn’t know whether given the choice he would want to stay or go.

If that is the case, it should colour how we approach life here and now.  There is nothing wrong with the ambitions to learn a new instrument, go on safari, visit 25 different countries (others on the top 50).  After all we live in a world where God has given us ‘all things richly to enjoy’ (1 Timothy 6:17). But above all we need to “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).  Ultimately, the one thing we all need to do before death is to get right with God.  We need to acknowledge our sinfulness, believe in Christ as Saviour and commit ourselves to Him. Only then can we really enjoy life in this world or have hope of the greater pleasures of the next.