The Conclusion...

When last I posted, Jesus had been crucified. Killed for the sins of many, even though He was the only without sin. He was humiliated, tortured, abandoned by His friends, family and by God.

Now, we are there. It is Saturday. Jesus died yesterday. The Sabbath is about to begin, so we have to do something. Jesus' body shouldn't just be left out in the open, but there are some burial traditions that can't happen till after the sabbath. Just as we are beginning to worry a rich man offers the use of his tomb. How generous! Jesus now has somewhere to rest for eternity (we think). He is quickly wrapped and entombed.

The religious and governmental leaders are aware that He preached that He would come back to life. The last thing they need is for a rumor of His coming back to life to start, so a heavy stone is shoved in front of the tomb and well trained guards are sent to protect it--to keep people from going into the tomb, taking the body and claiming that Jesus rose.

For all logical purposes it is over. People will realize Jesus died, His body will stay in the tomb, it will be guarded so no falsehoods can start, and after awhile people will go back to their business and life will go on, and the "Jesus problem" will be solved.

That is how it must have felt that Somber Saturday. Jesus was gone, and yeah Lazarus came forth from the tomb, but Jesus was dead and dead men perform no miracles. The disciples were huddling in an upper room, fearful of the mob that was there for Passover, of the repercussions they would face for having been taken in by this guy that claimed to be God, but died just like all the rest.

Saturday...24 hours that came and went...the sun rose, the sun heated the ground, the disciples hid, the sun set, the moon came out and the first post Jesus day was over.

Sunday...the sun rose and the sabbath was over, so Jesus' mother went with a friend to the tomb of her son, to deal with his body. How much grief must she have felt. What was she thinking? She, the one that gave birth to this baby that came about even though she knew she was a virgin. Mary knew something was special about her son. She watched the shepherds, angels and wise men worship and honor him. She saw him help her and a friend by turning water into fine wine. Yet, even Mary thought He was long dead, she was preparing to anoint His body and finish the burial traditions. That doesn't sound like a woman that has much hope that the story has another chapter.

The women arrive at the tomb and are discussing how to get the stone away when they are blinded by a light. A light so bright they must cover their eyes--a brilliance that can only come from Heaven. The guards are passed out, the stone has been moved and perched upon it is an angel! A heavenly being sent to proclaim a message that he must have been just bursting to share!

"He is not here! He has risen! He said He would! Go! He is risen!"

Just imagine you are the angels. You know that Jesus has to come and die, because you've been there for millenia with the Lord in Heaven. Yet, you don't really understand how much the Lord loves these creatures that so often sin and go against holy God. The worst day you've experienced as an angel was the day before, when you had to sit back and watch them kill Jesus. You have the power to save Him, but God won't let you and Jesus refuses to ask for your help.

Now it is Sunday, the day that Jesus chooses to come out of the tomb and show the world that He is God and that He defeated death. Heaven had to be one big party! Heavenly creatures flying back and forth shouting "Holy, Holy, He is Risen! He has earned His rightful spot! Praise the Lamb! Our God reigns! Hallelujah! Down with Satan! The Lamb has won!"

The angel that was allowed the privilege of telling humans that Christ was no longer dead was given an important and exciting task- "He lives! Jesus lives! Tell His friends! Tell EVERYONE! He is risen!"

The women quickly run to tell the disciples. Mary, Jesus' mother had to be beside herself, "I knew it! My Son lives, HE IS God, HE IS the MESSIAH!" How must her mother's heart have jumped for joy! As she is running to tell the others she comes across a sight that just floored her. Her son, the babe that she carried for 9 months, that she nursed, taught to walk, taught to read, and loved. The son that she watched be flogged, mocked, tortured, humiliated, the son whose body she cradled in death, HE was RIGHT THERE! In front of her, walking, talking and ALIVE!

The Bible contains a small portion of that conversation, but I imagine that it lasted longer, but it was a conversation not for the masses, but between mother and first born son. "Oh Jesus, you are alive! I love you, I'm so glad." This woman was given back her son! I think after she worshiped her Messiah she got up and hugged her son.

Jesus did die on that cross, but that is just part of the story. The conclusion to that chapter of life is just that...life. Jesus rose from the dead. The disciples didn't make up a story, the body didn't just disappear. Jesus isn't in any tomb because He is no longer dead! He is alive! He is the defeater of death, the Lord, the Messiah of not just the Jews, but of EVERYONE. Sin compelled Jesus to the cross, love kept Him on the cross, but deity brought Him back to life.

It is now up to each of us to choose whether or not we believe. God only does so much, and it is huge--He offers us salvation-Heaven for eternity. We have to choose to believe and accept the gift. If we do, we don't have to worry about death, eternity, a bad economy, fire, heights, roller-coasters, anything. We have the Lord, the God that is more powerful than our sin, than death by our side.

In this world we will face troubles. Christians are not immune to the suffering caused by living in a world that is polluted by sin, but we have a future that is so glorious we can't even imagine it. We have a God that is beside us, within us, helping us to make the right decisions and to exhibit grace through it all. Our trials may be awful, but they will end. Maybe in death, maybe not, but they will end because God came, lived, died and rose again!

Would you rather go through this life with all its ups and downs knowing that the future is nothing but amazing, or would you rather go through this life with all its ups and downs knowing that this is as good as it gets?

I choose to "Say yes to Jesus" to accept His gift and all that comes with it.

-JLK-