Oh Friends, Good Friday has passed, the worst is over now. The seed has been planted and harvest time will soon arrive. Now, Robert Frost allegedly said: ‘The best way out is always through.’ That’s no lie. And it’s exactly what Jesus did; He went through His passion and came out victorious on the other side. He tilled the soil with His ministry, laying the groundwork, then sowed the seed with His death. His burial is the time of germination; waiting for the seed to spring roots and burst forth into the bright sunlight. That’s the time we’re in now Friends; a period of expectancy, waiting for that new bloom to shoot up, then produce harvest. And harvest time will come Friends, exceeding abundantly, we just need to have a little patience. And isn’t it interesting how the Father had His burial all set up and arranged. This rich man, Joseph of Arimathea, a counsellor, but also a believer, went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, took Him down from the disgusting cross, wrapped Him in a clean linen cloth or shroud, the normal Jewish burial garment and very conveniently laid Him in a new tomb that he’d built for himself, then rolled a huge stone across the entrance. ‘And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over (opposite) the sepulchre.’ (Mat.27:61) Yes Friends, all the macho men who had promised to die with Him, had all run away, but the women stoically hung around to know what became of His body, and hopefully prevent any further abuse. Isn’t it also interesting that though the Jewish leaders claimed not to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, yet they remembered His words, and nonetheless tried to cover all bases by going to Pilate the day after the crucifixion and ‘Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre (tomb) be made sure (secure) until the third day, lest his disciples come by night and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so that the last error (deception) shall be worse than the first.’ (Mat.27:63-64) I have to laugh, because even in death, Jesus still had the Jewish elite worried and jumping through hoops. Even after cruelly and unjustly killing Him, they weren’t satisfied, and were fearful that His disciples might do some skulduggery, steal Him away, then claim He was risen as He predicted. Jesus never hid His resurrection. He proclaimed it on more than one occasion, especially to His disciples. Let’s check out a couple. After telling Peter that he was the rock on which He’d build His church, the Good Book claims: ‘From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.’ (Mat.16:21) That’s when Peter took Him aside and rebuked Him, claiming that would never happen, and Jesus in turn rebuked Peter, telling him: ‘Get thee behind me Satan: thou art an offense unto me: for thou savourest not (are not mindful of) the things of God, but those that be of men.’ (Mat.16:23) Peter was no different to many of us mih people. And when the disciples could not heal a mentally unstable man, Jesus declared it was because of their unbelief and lectured them about having faith even as a grain of mustard seed. Then said to them: ‘The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.’ (Mat.17:22-23) Even two of the false witnesses the council dredged up tried to use his allusions to the resurrection against Him. ‘This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.’ (Mat.26:61) But in their ignorance they didn’t know that He was referring to the temple of His own body. So His resurrection was fairly common knowledge and the rulers decided to be safe rather than sorry. And in answer to their request: ‘Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch (guard): go your way, make it as sure (secure) as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.’ (Mat.27:65-66) Ah Friends, unbelief is a helluva thing yes! It keeps you jittery and uncertain, and leads you to look for deceit and wrong doing where there is none, and to expect the worst when the best is possible. But I guess the Jewish rulers couldn’t do otherwise since the Father had hardened their hearts, like He did Pharaoh’s, so that His Name could be glorified and His kingdom furthered. Let’s be thankful that we live in supposedly more enlightened times, and don’t have to face such terrible persecution for believing in Jesus and all that he stands for: LOVE, Forgiveness, Redemption, Mercy, Grace, Reconciliation, etc. etc. I’d be foolish not to totally surrender my life, bursting with faith and trust to someone who’s so kind, LOVING, gentle, generous and merciful. Oh Friends, I don’t know how else to say this, but Jesus is just the GREATEST, and I’d advise us all to grab hold of His coat tail and hang on for dear life, because without Him, we’ll be lost in purgatory for ever. Much LOVE!…who else sacrificed their innocent life for us…nobody but Jesus…
SCRIP-BITS 