The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
(Verse 8)
It was the Sunday morning after the crucifixion of Jesus. The sky turned black in the middle of the afternoon on the Friday before. The planet quaked, taken in the Father's hands and shaken with outrage. The earth Jesus spoke into being nearly imploded at His death. Rocks split as the earth opened up, releasing the bodies of dead saints who walked the darkened streets, appearing to many in Jerusalem. The centurion at the foot of the cross got it. "This must be the Son of God!" He'd crucified many criminals. The deaths of none of them caused the globe to heave and the sun to eclipse. The coming to Earth of God Himself was marked by a quiet birth in a manger with other lambs. His physical death, His going out, rocked our world forever. These events were not accomplished in a vacuum. All of Jerusalem saw it. Probably still horrified by the aftermath. Wondering what happened--really happened when Jesus died. In her grief, Mary Magdalene came in the dark of that Sunday morning to try and convince the Roman guards to allow her in to see Jesus's body, to anoint it properly. It was a courageous move. Those who killed Jesus were afraid someone would come and steal the body. Not likely they'd let her get near Him. It was pitch black as she approached. Mary's grief mingling with her fear wasn't enough to keep her away from her Lord. Suddenly the earth became unsteady under her feet as it rumbled the way it had on Friday. A loud, cracking sound came from the direction of the tomb. Then there was a fiery light that guided Mary to the place where Jesus was.
The light was emanating from an angel who sat atop the giant stone that had guarded the entrance into the cave where Jesus was. It seemed the angel was made of light he was so bright. His white clothing was iridescent as it sparkled in the pre-dawn darkness. Beside the angel on the ground were the two Roman soldiers. Out cold. Maybe overtaken by fear. Perhaps overcome by the powerful presence of one who'd come straight from the throne of God. Mary, too, was trembling. Going to the grave had been a risky decision all along. Now she stood in resplendence, riveted to holy ground, trying to make her mind catch up with her experience. "Don't be afraid," says the angel, but it sounded like thunder or rushing water cascading over a cliff. "I know you came here looking for Jesus. But He isn't here any more. He came back to life, just like He said He would."
For these few days Mary's heart was ripped and perplexed. She loved Jesus. Now He was gone. No one understood how Messiah could die. It wasn't what they thought it would be--His coming to Earth. Now the angel proclaims Jesus is alive again. And she doesn't know how that could be. "Come in," invited the angelic being. "Come see where He was. Then go quickly into Galilee. That's where Jesus is going now. Tell His disciples He's risen from the dead."
At the invitation of the angel, Mary walked, stunned and shaken, into the tomb. "See," said the angel. "I told you." The resin cast that had been formed around the body of Jesus was in tact. As if He'd slid whole from it. The cloth that was over His face lay folded in a corner. And Mary believed.
It wasn't like anyone thought, the coming and going of God to Earth. Born in ignominy, crucified as a criminal, risen of His own accord. Salvation was accomplished without an army. No politics involved except as the weapon of His perceived destruction. Jesus was a Lamb, slaughtered. Not a king crowned. Not on earth, anyway. He ascended physically into heaven many days later. Departed in a confusing splendor. The Lamb now the Lion of Judah. In charge of everything that happens next. We, and the disciples, were left with these words: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Wherever we are. Going out or coming in. And it might not always look like we think, but it will be miraculous and purposeful and powerful. For we are called to be light and salt. To break down barriers and to build up love. To the end of the age. And forever more.
(Verse 8)
It was the Sunday morning after the crucifixion of Jesus. The sky turned black in the middle of the afternoon on the Friday before. The planet quaked, taken in the Father's hands and shaken with outrage. The earth Jesus spoke into being nearly imploded at His death. Rocks split as the earth opened up, releasing the bodies of dead saints who walked the darkened streets, appearing to many in Jerusalem. The centurion at the foot of the cross got it. "This must be the Son of God!" He'd crucified many criminals. The deaths of none of them caused the globe to heave and the sun to eclipse. The coming to Earth of God Himself was marked by a quiet birth in a manger with other lambs. His physical death, His going out, rocked our world forever. These events were not accomplished in a vacuum. All of Jerusalem saw it. Probably still horrified by the aftermath. Wondering what happened--really happened when Jesus died. In her grief, Mary Magdalene came in the dark of that Sunday morning to try and convince the Roman guards to allow her in to see Jesus's body, to anoint it properly. It was a courageous move. Those who killed Jesus were afraid someone would come and steal the body. Not likely they'd let her get near Him. It was pitch black as she approached. Mary's grief mingling with her fear wasn't enough to keep her away from her Lord. Suddenly the earth became unsteady under her feet as it rumbled the way it had on Friday. A loud, cracking sound came from the direction of the tomb. Then there was a fiery light that guided Mary to the place where Jesus was.
The light was emanating from an angel who sat atop the giant stone that had guarded the entrance into the cave where Jesus was. It seemed the angel was made of light he was so bright. His white clothing was iridescent as it sparkled in the pre-dawn darkness. Beside the angel on the ground were the two Roman soldiers. Out cold. Maybe overtaken by fear. Perhaps overcome by the powerful presence of one who'd come straight from the throne of God. Mary, too, was trembling. Going to the grave had been a risky decision all along. Now she stood in resplendence, riveted to holy ground, trying to make her mind catch up with her experience. "Don't be afraid," says the angel, but it sounded like thunder or rushing water cascading over a cliff. "I know you came here looking for Jesus. But He isn't here any more. He came back to life, just like He said He would."
For these few days Mary's heart was ripped and perplexed. She loved Jesus. Now He was gone. No one understood how Messiah could die. It wasn't what they thought it would be--His coming to Earth. Now the angel proclaims Jesus is alive again. And she doesn't know how that could be. "Come in," invited the angelic being. "Come see where He was. Then go quickly into Galilee. That's where Jesus is going now. Tell His disciples He's risen from the dead."
At the invitation of the angel, Mary walked, stunned and shaken, into the tomb. "See," said the angel. "I told you." The resin cast that had been formed around the body of Jesus was in tact. As if He'd slid whole from it. The cloth that was over His face lay folded in a corner. And Mary believed.
It wasn't like anyone thought, the coming and going of God to Earth. Born in ignominy, crucified as a criminal, risen of His own accord. Salvation was accomplished without an army. No politics involved except as the weapon of His perceived destruction. Jesus was a Lamb, slaughtered. Not a king crowned. Not on earth, anyway. He ascended physically into heaven many days later. Departed in a confusing splendor. The Lamb now the Lion of Judah. In charge of everything that happens next. We, and the disciples, were left with these words: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Wherever we are. Going out or coming in. And it might not always look like we think, but it will be miraculous and purposeful and powerful. For we are called to be light and salt. To break down barriers and to build up love. To the end of the age. And forever more.
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