A Silent Saturday

Pilate was surprised to hear that He was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. – (Mark 15:44-46, NIV)

 

After the devastation of the cross, a faithful few prepared Jesus’ body and buried Him in a tomb. By sun up, it would be the Sabbath, and no one would be going anywhere or doing anything. The disciples and other followers of Jesus likely spent the day in mourning. Meanwhile, the chief priests and the Pharisees were not at all at ease. They went to Pilate because they recalled the words of Jesus, and clearly had concerns about what might transpire in the coming days.

 

“Sir,” they said, “we remember that while He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So, give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that He has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” – (Matthew 27:63-64, NIV)

 

Consequently, Pilate ordered his guards to make the tomb secure and to stand guard at the tomb. That Saturday, all seemed to be silent. Jewish law kept mourners from moving about and doing much of anything, and I imagine that each of the faithful followers of Jesus retreated to their own homes and pondered all that had transpired in the previous twenty-four hours. It is as if the world stopped spinning, and all were stuck in a silent space of grief and disbelief. For me, knowing the whole story, I am in a space between awe and agony at the weight of all that Jesus bore on my behalf, and the anticipation of celebration, knowing that He conquered death and rose again the very next day.  Today is a space of waiting. Silent reflection and appreciation are what flood my heart and mind. I mourn my own sinfulness, yet overflow with gratitude for the salvation that is granted because He bore it all for me. May we each find our own quiet moments to reflect on the magnitude of what our Maker did for us all as we stay in this space of sacred silence.

 

This day of waiting,

Sabbath long ago;

The Savior, buried,

Seemed hope’s final blow.

The world lay silent,

The Savior was dead;

Where were they to go,

What could have been said?

Silent reflection,

Such grief on that day;

What could have been done,

Unrealized grace.

O painful waiting,

To go to the tomb;

Observe in anguish,

Savior’s seeming doom.

The stillness gave way,

For we know the end;

Death could not hold Him,

As He rose again.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your one and only Son to make the way for us to be restored unto You. Thank You Jesus, for bearing the weight of all of our sin upon Yourself; for we are the ones deserving sanctions of suffering, not You. Forgive us for not fully embracing the weight of what You have done for us, or for questioning whether or not Your sacrifice truly covered it all. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would receive the mercy and grace provided at the cross, and demonstrate our gratitude by living a life that ever seeks Your will. Show us how to love those around us in a way that makes the promise that joy comes in the morning no matter how dark the night appears, evident. May many come to embrace the grace that You made possible through Your death and resurrection on this holy weekend so long ago. Be glorified O God, as we set our hearts in silent reflection over all that You did to make us acceptable in Your sight. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. – John 16:22

Intended for Obedience

Throughout Leviticus, the letter of God’s law is laid out.  In the midst of their time of wandering in the desert, where Moses and the masses of Jewish people had been set free from slavery in Egypt, God gave the people specific instructions as to how He wanted them to live, so that they could be set apart, dedicated unto Him.  Initially, it may seem to be a list of “thou shall nots“, and the “thou musts“, but upon closer investigation, the heart of the matter is that God desires our obedience.  He wants our hearts turned toward His, and knows that we must remove the obstacles that keep us from focusing our hearts on Him.  As we choose to listen and obey, walking out our days in obedience, He blesses us with His provision, protection, and His permanent presence in our very being.

“If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field  their fruit.” – (Leviticus 26:3-4)  He goes on to speak of safety, favor and freedom that will be provided for those who choose to follow Him. (see verses 6-13) His heart is for us, and He knows our need for guidance to find and follow Him.

Christ’s sacrifice ended the old law, as He was the ultimate sacrifice, once and for all, through whom all sins are forgiven.  However, we should not ever take that sacrifice for granted.  The beauty of Levitical law was the intense awareness of the cost of sin.  Imagine having to take an unblemished animal before the priest, only to watch it die, knowing that it should have been you.  Perhaps we can gain a bit of perspective if we remember to look to the cross, and recognize that each time we sin, we have gone against what God has intended for us, and we drive a nail into the sinless hands, hanging on our behalf.  On the brighter side, Christ conquered death.  He rose again, ascended into heaven, and sent His Holy Spirit, so that we would have a constant companion to help lead us and guide us for all of our days.  We need only invite Him in, and His presence will remain with us forever.  May we listen well, as He asks us to love God, and love people, just as He has loved us.

Obedience,

living sacrifice;

what we may give,

as we recognize.

He wants our hearts,

let us give Him all;

with gratitude,

as we hear His call.

Let our hearts hold,

His astounding grace;

may we serve well,

’til we see His face.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we no longer have to live by the letter of the Levitical law, yet thank You for showing us the purpose was to provide Your people with the path to stay pure before You.  Thank You for sending Jesus, and for the gift of grace that we may now embrace because of His great sacrifice.  Forgive us for not recognizing the severity of Your sacrifice on our behalf, and help us to be aware of just how great the cost, as we face the choice as to whether or not to choose Your will.  Teach us to be ever aware of Your still small voice, and always willing to walk in obedience to whatever You ask.  Lead us to love as we are loved, and may many come into a saving relationship with You, our Redeemer.  Be exalted, O God.  Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

– Psalm 23:6