Marley was dead to begin with.
That’s the first line of Charles Dickens’ story, “A Christmas Carol.” In 1843, Charles Dickens spent the entire first page of that book explaining just how dead Jacob Marley was. Then he ends his point with “There is no doubt that Marley was dead. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate.”
Well, the same must be understood about Jesus’ death. It must be fully understood that Jesus Christ was emphatically dead. Jesus willingly endured the humiliation and the pain of the events leading up to the Crucifixion. He willingly endured the nails through His hands and His feet. He willingly breathed His last and gave up His life on the Cross. Jesus was dead.
His disciples were crushed by the abrupt end of their friend, Jesus. They saw Him perform miracle after miracle! They saw Him raise people from the dead!
Why couldn’t He have saved Himself? Weren’t they just with Him eating the Passover meal? Didn’t He seem so in charge of everything? Now it’s all just… over?
As the exhaustion of the sleepless night crept in, most of the disciples spent that quiet Sabbath hiding. Scattered, like sheep without a shepherd. But when Jesus cried, “It is finished”, that was not the end of the story. While His disciples despaired, Jesus was quietly accomplishing everything He had planned before He said, “Let there be light.”
He’s Always Working
The 17th-century pastor Matthew Henry said, “Christ went down into the grave, to make it easy to us, and to perfume our beds of dust.” Likewise, Thomas Watson, another pastor, said, “He was content to lie in the dust that we might be lifted to glory.” His death and burial were not an accident. And they were not permanent.
Do you feel like the disciples felt on that day…hopeless? questioning? “Jesus, where are you? Why aren’t you helping me? I’m so tired of waiting!”
If this is you, remember, Jesus was working even though it didn’t seem like it. And He is still working today, for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose.
On the Creation Sabbath, God rested after creating the world. On the Redemption Sabbath, Christ rested after saving the world. In our Eternal Sabbath, all who Christ has redeemed will rest with Him forever after He judges and destroys the world.
Just as His disciples waited, we eagerly await His return. So, hold fast hope, because He is alive! This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the Easter story – for you.
It may look dark today, but Sunday is coming.
Reflection Questions for Today
1. Why is it important to understand that Jesus was truly dead before we can appreciate the Resurrection?
2. How does the idea that Jesus was still working, even in the silence, change your perspective on seasons of waiting?
3. How does Jesus’ death and burial prove that God was accomplishing salvation even when everything looked finished?
Posted in A Word from the Pastor